Aaron Judge nears MLB return as Yankees prepare for live pitching

New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge is nearing a return to the Major Leagues following a three-month absence due to a right rib stress fracture. Judge has begun intensive rehabilitation, including on-field batting practice at Petco Park and running bases. He is scheduled to face live pitching this coming Monday at Yankee Stadium, a critical step in his recovery process.

Manager Aaron Boone indicated that Judge is at the ‘finish line’ of his physical recovery. While the team is considering various ways to build his workload, such as playing extended innings in games, Judge has expressed a desire to avoid a minor league rehab assignment to prevent ‘wasting’ at-bats.

In recent team action, the Yankees have been facing the San Diego Padres in a series at Petco Park. The roster has also seen movement with prospects like Anthony Volpe performing well in Triple-A and Jasson Domínguez being called up to the major league roster. Additionally, the team is monitoring the status of Giancarlo Stanton, who remains on the injured list with a calf strain but has not been ruled out for the remainder of the season.