Aaron Judge targeting September return, hopes to skip rehab assignment

The Yankees outfielder is aiming for a September return from injury and would prefer to bypass a minor-league rehab assignment, MLB.com reported. The timetable would bring Judge back as rosters expand and the club pushes toward October, though no firm date has been announced.

What happened

Judge is aiming to return to the Yankees lineup in September and would prefer to bypass a rehab assignment in the minors, per MLB.com. The report did not specify the nature of the injury, a firm return date, or whether the club has approved the plan to forgo a minor-league stint.

The timing would align with the September 1 roster expansion, when active rosters grow from 26 to 28 players through the end of the regular season. That extra flexibility often eases the return of injured regulars, particularly when a club is weighing whether a player needs game action in the minors before rejoining a pennant race.

Why it matters

Judge's absence has left a sizable hole in the middle of the Yankees order, and his return would arrive as the club navigates the final month of the regular season. New York sits at 81-61, second in the AL East and four games behind the division leader, but holds the top Wild Card spot with a cushion over the cut line. The Yankees are a game into a winning streak and face Houston on Thursday before a weekend series against Boston.

Skipping a rehab assignment would accelerate Judge's return, but it also means his first live at-bats since the injury would come in games that matter. Rehab assignments allow position players up to 20 days to work back into game shape in the minors, a buffer that can be especially useful for timing and conditioning after an extended layoff. The decision to forgo that runway suggests either confidence in Judge's readiness or urgency driven by the calendar and the standings.

The Yankees have managed without their cleanup hitter, but the lineup's margin for error narrows in September. Judge's bat would restore length and protection, and his presence in right field would allow the club to optimize its defensive alignment as it prepares for the postseason.

Where the club stands

The Yankees are 81-61, four games back in the AL East and holding the top Wild Card position. They are a game into a winning streak and open a three-game set against Houston on Thursday at Yankee Stadium, with Gerrit Cole scheduled to face Hayden Wesneski. A weekend series against Boston follows, with Cam Schlittler and Carlos Rodón slated to start Friday and Saturday.

New York has 20 games remaining in the regular season, and the schedule offers little respite. The division race remains within reach, but the Wild Card cushion provides a measure of security as the club weighs how to deploy its roster down the stretch. Judge's return would give the manager another high-leverage bat and a steadying presence in a lineup that faces postseason-caliber pitching in the weeks ahead.

What we don't know yet

The report did not specify the injury Judge is returning from, when he was placed on the injured list, or how long he has been sidelined. No firm return date was given, and it remains unclear whether the Yankees have committed to the plan to skip a rehab assignment or whether that decision depends on Judge's progress in the coming days.

The absence of a rehab assignment would require Judge to ramp up his activity through on-field work at Yankee Stadium, but the report did not detail what that process might look like or how many at-bats he has taken in simulated games or live batting practice. The club has not announced whether Judge travels with the team or remains in New York for additional work before rejoining the active roster.

It is also unknown whether Judge returns to his usual spot in the lineup immediately or eases back into a full workload. September rosters allow for more flexibility in managing playing time, but the Yankees' position in the standings may limit how much the club can afford to ease a key player back into action.

What to watch

Judge's next steps clarify the timetable. If he begins taking at-bats in simulated games or live batting practice at Yankee Stadium, that would signal the final phase of his return. The Yankees' next homestand runs through the weekend, and any on-field work would likely take place during that stretch.

The decision to skip a rehab assignment hinges on Judge's readiness, and the club may revisit that plan if his progress stalls or if the medical staff prefers a more cautious approach. Rehab assignments offer a controlled environment to test timing and conditioning, and the Yankees could still opt for a brief minor-league stint if Judge's workouts suggest he needs live game action before facing major-league pitching.

The September 1 roster expansion provides a natural inflection point. If Judge is ready by then, the Yankees can activate him without needing to clear a roster spot, and the extra two active slots give the club room to carry additional depth as it prepares for October. If the return stretches into the first week of September, the Yankees need to weigh how much time remains to get Judge back into rhythm before the postseason.

New York's schedule over the next two weeks also shapes the urgency. The Yankees face Houston, Boston, and a road trip that tests their depth and their margin in the Wild Card race. Judge's return would fortify the lineup at a time when every game carries postseason implications, and the club's willingness to skip a rehab assignment suggests it believes the reward outweighs the risk of bringing him back without minor-league at-bats.