Full Breakdown
Aaron Judge’s Rib Re-Imaging Set for All-Star Break Amid Yankees’ Mid-Season Struggles
7/10/2026, 6:41:46 PM
Core Event: Re-Imaging Planned During All-Star Break
New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman announced that outfielder Aaron Judge will undergo a new rib scan during the upcoming All-Star break. Judge has been on the injured list since June 5 after a CT scan, MRI and specialist consultation confirmed a stress fracture of his right rib. The Yankees hope the imaging will clarify whether Judge is asymptomatic and whether his rehabilitation can progress to upper-body work.
Background & Context: Injury Timeline and Prior Performance
Judge’s last major-league appearance came on May 31, ending a stretch in which he posted a .248/.375/.533 slash line with 17 home runs and 38 RBIs over 59 games. The injury followed an 11-game homerless drought, during which his power output waned. Prior to the fracture, Judge had been the American League MVP in three of the past four seasons and had recorded at least 50 home runs in four separate campaigns. The rib fracture marks his 10th stint on the injured list since his debut in 2016, joining previous absences for a fractured wrist (2018), an oblique strain (2019) and a fractured toe (2023).
Data & Statistics: Impact on Judge and the Yankees
- Games missed: 45 (from May 31 to early July)
- Team record without Judge: 15-19 (ESPN) / 14-19 in 33 games (TSN)
- Division standing: Yankees sit four games behind the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays, yet remain seven games ahead of the Toronto Blue Jays and five games clear of the wild-card line.
- Offensive slump: The club has won only 2 of its last 11 games, scoring three runs or fewer in eight of those contests.
Official Statements & Responses
Cashman emphasized a cautious approach, stating the team will not accelerate Judge’s return until he is symptom-free and imaging confirms healing. He noted that the injury limits upper-body workouts, and the new scans should inform when such activity can resume. Judge himself acknowledged the uncertainty, saying he must wait for the images before providing a concrete update and stressing the organization’s focus on a World Series run.
Criticism & Opposition
Public commentary has been limited to concern over the Yankees’ offensive decline; no notable criticism of the medical or managerial handling of Judge’s injury has surfaced in the available reports.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
While the Yankees anticipate the re-imaging will aid decision-making, Chris Kirschner of *The Athletic* reported that the team does not expect the scans to be “clean,” leaving the exact timeline for Judge’s return undefined. No specific projected return date has been disclosed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I don't think we want to put him at risk of coming back while still injured,” — Brian Cashman, Yankees GM
- “If he's asymptomatic and not feeling anything and [medical images] are showing healing, then it's probably appropriate to get him going again.” — Brian Cashman, Yankees GM
- “You know how it goes around here — guys can feel good, feel bad, but you’ve got to wait on images. I’ll give you a good update when we get some imaging.” — Aaron Judge, outfielder
- “It’s not great - just a little lack of focus,” — Aaron Judge, outfielder
What’s Next: Upcoming Decisions
The Yankees will receive Judge’s rib re-imaging results during the All-Star break, which begins on Monday. Depending on those findings, the club will determine when to reintroduce upper-body conditioning and, ultimately, when Judge can rejoin the lineup for the second half of the season.
