New York Yankees star Aaron Judge is steadily increasing his baseball activity as he works to recover from a right calf strain, aiming for a potential return in the American League Division Series (ALDS) against the Tampa Bay Rays. Judge’s injury, described as a moderate-grade strain involving the soleus muscle near the Achilles tendon, occurred two weeks ago, and typical recovery timelines for this type of injury range from four to six weeks. Despite the odds, the Yankees are hopeful he might be available for the postseason, though a timely return remains uncertain.
On Wednesday, Judge progressed from using the antigravity treadmill to light running and increased hitting repetitions as part of his rehabilitation. However, he refrained from running the bases during drills, a critical step he will likely need to clear before rejoining game action. The Yankees continue to monitor his workload carefully, with manager Aaron Boone noting the significant strides Judge has made in recent days, including participation in live batting practice earlier in the week — an encouraging sign that he is regaining strength and mobility.
Judge spoke cautiously about his prospects, acknowledging that Game 1 of the ALDS, scheduled for Saturday, is still several days away. “I’m doing everything I can, all morning, night, during the game, everything to prepare myself to be ready to go,” he said, while emphasizing that final decisions would come closer to the series.
Judge was absent from Tuesday’s pregame introductions ahead of the Yankees’ wild-card series opener against the Boston Red Sox but was present in the dugout by first pitch and watched from the bench during their 9-2 win in Game 2, which completed a series sweep. The Yankees ultimately left Judge off their wild-card roster because he was not sufficiently ready to play.
In Judge’s absence, the Yankees’ lineup saw adjustments, including managing the playing time of Giancarlo Stanton, who is also recovering from calf injuries and has not played since late April. Stanton’s limited use reflects caution in deploying players with soft-tissue injuries, particularly with spot duty in high-leverage situations anticipated.
Boone indicated that the decision to activate Judge for the ALDS roster depends on how he progresses over the coming days. There is also consideration of how Judge would fit into the Yankees’ lineup, given the existing depth at designated hitter and first base, which includes Ben Rice, Luis García Jr., and Paul Goldschmidt. While Judge could potentially return as a designated hitter, he and the team prefer him to be available as a right fielder to maximize flexibility.
With the ALDS opener approaching and the Yankees set to face the Rays at Tropicana Field — a surface known for its challenges to players managing leg injuries — Judge’s status will be closely watched. For now, the Yankees continue to balance hope and caution as they prepare for the next chapter of the postseason.