Aaron Judge scheduled to face live pitching Monday at Yankee Stadium

Aaron Judge is scheduled to face live pitching Monday at Yankee Stadium, MLB.com reported, marking another step in his progression toward a return from injury.

What happened

Judge will take batting practice against live pitching Monday at Yankee Stadium, per MLB.com. The session represents continued advancement in his recovery, though the club has not announced a timetable for his return to game action.

The nature of Judge's injury was not specified in the report. The live batting practice session is typically a late-stage checkpoint in a position player's rehab progression, coming after cage work and field drills but before a formal rehab assignment or activation.

Why it matters

Judge's absence has left a significant gap in the Yankees' lineup during a stretch run in which they hold the top American League Wild Card spot but trail in the division race. The club enters Monday sitting second in the AL East and four games behind the division leader.

Live pitching represents a meaningful test of a hitter's readiness, requiring timing, bat speed, and the ability to track breaking balls in real time — all elements that cannot be fully replicated in soft-toss or machine work. The session will give the club's medical and coaching staff a clearer picture of where Judge stands and what steps remain before he can rejoin the active roster.

The Yankees have navigated Judge's absence while managing other roster challenges. Four days ago, the club placed center fielder Trent Grisham on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain, a recurrence of an earlier 2026 injury. Manager Aaron Boone said at the time that Grisham's regular season could be in jeopardy, with no timetable set for his return.

The timing of Judge's progression comes three days after Gerrit Cole allowed three consecutive home runs to open a game, the second time in his career he has surrendered back-to-back-to-back home runs to start a contest. That loss dropped the Yankees to their current position in the standings.

Where the club stands

The Yankees are 81-62, holding the top Wild Card position in the American League. They trail the AL East leader by four games and are coming off a loss.

New York opens a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium. Cam Schlittler is the probable starter for the opener, opposed by Gabriel Hughes. Will Warren and Max Fried are slated to follow in the next two games, facing Tomoyuki Sugano and Ryan Feltner.

The expanded September roster — 28 active players through the end of the regular season, up from the 26-man limit in place through August — gives the club additional flexibility to carry extra position players or pitchers as it manages injuries and workload down the stretch. That flexibility has been tested by the recent wave of injury-list moves, including Grisham's placement on the IL and the corresponding recall of Jasson Domínguez.

What we don't know yet

MLB.com's report did not include a timetable for Judge's return to game action or specify whether a minor-league rehab assignment would precede his activation. The club has not announced the results of Monday's live batting practice session or outlined the next steps in his progression.

The nature and severity of Judge's injury were not detailed in the report, nor was the length of his absence. Without that context, it is unclear whether the live pitching session represents the final hurdle before activation or one of several remaining checkpoints.

A rehab assignment, if deemed necessary, can last up to 20 days for a position player before the club must activate him or make another roster decision. The Yankees have 19 games remaining in the regular season, leaving limited time to complete a rehab stint and reintegrate Judge into the lineup before the postseason.

The report also did not identify which pitchers will throw to Judge during Monday's session or how many at-bats he is expected to take. Those details, along with the club's assessment of his performance, will shape the next phase of his return timeline.

What to watch

The outcome of Monday's live batting practice will determine the next phase of Judge's return. If the session goes well, the club could move quickly toward activation, either directly or after a brief rehab assignment. If Judge experiences discomfort or the coaching staff identifies mechanical concerns, additional work may be required before he faces game pitching.

The Yankees' schedule over the next week — three games against Colorado, followed by a road series — will shape the urgency of Judge's return. The club's comfortable Wild Card lead provides some cushion, but the four-game deficit in the division race keeps the pressure on to field its strongest lineup as soon as medically prudent.

Judge's return would also ease the roster strain created by Grisham's hamstring injury. The Yankees have leaned on their depth throughout September, and Judge's presence would restore a cornerstone bat to the middle of the order at a time when every game carries postseason seeding implications.

The live pitching session is a familiar ritual in the final stages of a position player's rehab, one that has launched countless return timelines and just as many cautious non-commitments from front offices. Monday's session will tell the Yankees whether Judge is ready to rejoin the lineup or whether more work lies ahead. Either way, the club will have a clearer picture of its roster heading into the final weeks of the regular season.