Aaron Judge Nears Hitting Progression as Pool Work May Be Final Recovery Step

Pool work, the unglamorous but apparently load-bearing final chapter of Aaron Judge's recovery, may be the last box to check before the Yankees slugger begins a hitting progression, per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.

The framing here matters: "may be" is doing real work in that sentence. Nothing in the report constitutes a timetable, a return date, or a green light — only the possibility that the aquatic phase of his rehab is nearing its conclusion and that a hitting progression might follow.

What we know

Judge is progressing through injury recovery. Pool work is described as potentially the final step before a hitting progression begins. That is the full inventory of reported movement.

What remains unconfirmed

No hitting progression has been announced. No return timeline has been set. The report does not specify the nature of the injury, a target date, or what a hitting progression would look like in practice.

The broader picture

The Yankees are navigating a crowded injury ledger. Max Fried was placed on the IL, though the club is optimistic he will miss only the minimum time required. Giancarlo Stanton is nearing the end of a running program with no return timeline established. Carlos Rodón was reinstated from the 15-day IL after completing his rehab assignment — one thread moving in the right direction.

Judge's status remains the headline item. A hitting progression, if and when it begins, would represent a meaningful step forward — but the operative word in this report is still "may."