SAN DIEGO — Aaron Judge picked up his bat and walked toward home plate Friday afternoon at Petco Park. For the first time in 96 days, he was back in an MLB batter’s box with a bat in his hands.
It was only batting practice. No American League East stakes were on the line as first-base coach Dan Fiorito lobbed pitches toward the best hitter of his generation. But for Judge and the New York Yankees, it marked a significant step. It meant that after three months away while he dealt with a stress fracture in his right rib, Judge was just days away from returning.
That day has arrived. On Monday, hours after he took live batting practice at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees activated Judge ahead of their three-game series against the Colorado Rockies that begins Tuesday.
“It doesn’t get much better having a lineup addition than a three-time MVP,” Yankees outfielder Spencer Jones said over the weekend. “Having that guy injected into the lineup and playing every day is going to be huge for us, because we’ve found ways to win without him this year. And to add him in there is going to give us that extra layer of offensive firepower.”
Aaron Judge taking live BP at Yankee Stadium today.
Via MLB Network pic.twitter.com/Wm3L5CP3rt
— Everything Yankees (@eyyankees) September 7, 2026
The Yankees have survived more than three months without Judge, who last played May 31, in their lineup. Since June 1, the Yankees have a 45-39 record, tied for the ninth-most wins in that span. Their pitching has carried the weight in his absence. The Yankees’ 3.24 ERA since June 1 is the best in MLB. Meanwhile, their offense has cratered since losing Judge; only the Los Angeles Angels have a worse offense by wRC+ during that span.
The Yankees are built to hit the ball over the fence, and not having Judge — in addition to Giancarlo Stanton for most of the season — has meant they’ve needed to find ways to make up for the lack of firepower. Through May 31, no team had more home runs than the Yankees. Since that date, they have the 10th-most home runs.
“Having that guy setting the tone at the top of the lineup, we’ve missed that most of the season,” catcher Austin Wells said. “To have him come back at the most pivotal time of the year, I don’t think there’s anyone that can add the value that he will when he’s back.
There are more subtle ways, too, in which Judge’s absence has heavily affected the Yankees. They went from being the second-highest-scoring team in the first inning with him (only the Washington Nationals scored more first-inning runs through May 31) to scoring the fewest first-inning runs since the start of June. Their fly-ball rate fell from 10th in MLB to 19th during that time, while their ground-ball rate skyrocketed from the fifth-lowest with him to the fifth-highest without him.
Two hitters, in particular, could benefit from Judge’s presence. Ben Rice and Cody Bellinger will likely be the two who hit either directly in front of or behind Judge in the Yankees’ lineup. Their numbers with and without Judge are drastically different. Rice had a 189 wRC+ through May 31 but has posted just a 115 wRC+ since June 1. Bellinger fell from a 141 wRC+ with Judge to an 86 wRC+ without him.
“It’s hard to tell if you get pitched any different,” Bellinger said. “I just know that, obviously, having him in the lineup helps everyone, for sure.”
The offense has mostly been a mess since Judge was placed on the injured list. It’s forced the Yankees to play close games almost daily, leading manager Aaron Boone to use his highest-leverage arms consistently. Paul Blackburn and Brent Headrick rank inside the top 10 in innings pitched among all relievers. The bullpen has been running on fumes for weeks now. An injection of offense should provide more rest days for the team’s top relievers.
One reason there haven’t been more Yankees blowouts is that they’ve been too left-handed, which has allowed opposing teams to strategically use their lefty pitchers, particularly out of the bullpen. The Yankees went from being the best offense versus lefty pitching by wRC+ with Judge to the 19th-best without him. Even when they are facing right-handers, having Judge back will give Boone more lineup balance.
“To have that right-handed hitter on the days we’re facing a righty where we’ve got all our lefties in — to have a right-handed hitter in that two-three hole — I think it goes a long way, not only having his production back in there, but hopefully putting other guys in a better spot,” Boone said.
Even though he hasn’t been able to contribute on the field, Judge has still found ways to help the Yankees win games. Wells said that when the Yankees face starters whom Judge has seen numerous times, he’ll give detailed scouting reports during hitters’ meetings.
“He has so much value even when he’s not on the field, with the leadership and experience, especially when we’re facing teams in our division,” Wells said.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. has not had the season he envisioned. One of his teammates who has kept him sane throughout it all has been Judge, who has reminded Chisholm how much of a game-changer he can be at any moment. Jones said Judge has provided him with tips on his swing, especially now that they share a personal hitting coach.
But none of that is more important than what Judge can do when he’s on the field. Boone called the Yankees’ captain, “the best player in the world.”
There are 19 games left in the season, and the Yankees remain four games behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East.
Judge has not appeared in a game in 99 days. On Day 100, he’ll be back, and the race for the division title is on.
