@dailymailsportusa: New York Yankees star Aaron Judge is finally set to make his long-awaited return following a frustrating three-month stint on the injured list. The Bronx Bombers confirmed on Monday that Judge has officially been activated and will be available to play on Tuesday when New York hosts the Colorado Rockies. The 34-year-old has been sidelined since late May after suffering a persistent rib injury that kept him out far longer than initially anticipated. Judge took a decisive step forward on Monday afternoon by taking live batting practice at Yankee Stadium, convincing team officials and manager Aaron Boone that he was ready for game action. The reigning AL MVP had ramped up his baseball activities over the past week, running the bases, going through outfield drills and taking practice cuts. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Judge did not hide his frustration with the prolonged recovery process that kept him on the shelf during the heat of the summer. 'I'm mad how long it has taken,' Judge admitted. 'It is what it is. I wish it was real two months ago, but we're at this point now. We're getting close. I can't wait to be back out there.' Despite missing their captain and middle-of-the-order anchor, the Yankees have managed to keep their season firmly on track. New York currently sits in second place in the AL East with an 81-62 record, holding a comfortable 8.5-game cushion in the American League wild-card race. Judge's comeback opens a six-game homestand, featuring three games against Colorado before a Subway Series clash with the cross-town New York Mets. With 19 games remaining in the regular season, the slugger will have nearly three weeks of live action to lock in his timing at the plate before the playoffs get underway. While New York looks well positioned to secure the top AL wild-card spot, a strong September push could also allow the Yankees to pressure the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays for the AL East crown and a first-round postseason bye. Before hitting the injured list, Judge was putting together another strong offensive campaign, hitting .248 with 17 home runs, 38 RBIs, 43 runs scored, and a .907 OPS across 59 games. His return provides an immense boost for Aaron Boone’s lineup as the Yankees look to lock up their postseason seeding. #aaronjudge #yankees #newyorkyankees #nyyankees #MLB

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Tuesday 08 September 2026 14:21:23 GMT