Aaron Judge resumes tee work at Yankees camp, another step in right-first-rib stress fracture recovery

Aaron Judge took another step forward in his recovery, resuming tee work at Yankee Stadium as the New York Yankees captain continues a careful return from a stress fracture in his right first rib. According to FOX Sports, Judge has begun swinging off a tee again, marking a progression in a hitting plan that had paused earlier due to the injury.

The Yankees have approached the rehabilitation as a multi-phase process, and manager Aaron Boone indicated Thursday that the organization’s clearance plan has expanded beyond the batting cage. As reported by FOX Sports, Boone said Judge has also been cleared to run outdoors, play catch, and perform upper-body resistance training. Those additions are significant because they suggest the Yankees believe Judge can handle more of the physical load required for baseball-specific movements without aggravating the rib.

Stress fractures can be slow to settle because they are sensitive to impact and torso rotation, the same mechanics used repeatedly in hitting and throwing. While a return to tee work does not guarantee a quick path to live batting, it does show the medical and performance staffs are comfortable enough with his current symptoms and workload tolerance to progress into a step that more closely resembles game swings than earlier conditioning phases.

Judge’s role on the Yankees is central to both on-field production and clubhouse leadership, so every checkpoint matters in practical terms. Even late in a season, the difference between being able to participate fully and being limited to incremental drills can affect lineups, bullpen management, and the timing of roster decisions. The Yankees, who compete with a playoff push in mind, typically weigh not only the immediate benefits of a player’s return but also the risk of backtracking once he is close to game readiness.

For Judge, tee work is one part of the sequence that usually precedes more demanding tasks such as live batting practice and eventually facing game-caliber pitching. Boone’s comments, as relayed by FOX Sports, place Judge in an early-to-mid stage of the hitting progression: he is swinging from a stationary setup while continuing to broaden activity on both offense and defense through outdoor running, throwing/catching, and strength work.

The Yankees will still need to manage the fine line between progression and protection. Even after clearance for expanded workouts, players returning from rib injuries often require continued monitoring during practices and spring of activity increases. The next set of developments to watch is whether Judge advances from tee swings to more dynamic hitting looks and whether the organization adds further baseball-specific drills beyond catch and resistance training.

Judge’s decision point now becomes the next measurable milestone in the rehabilitation timeline, rather than the final destination. The Yankees will likely continue to update the public process when Boone and the team’s medical staff believe it is appropriate, but the immediate takeaway is clear: the captain is moving forward in the plan, and New York’s roster planning can shift gradually with each confirmed step in his return to activity.

The injury backdrop gives this moment added weight for the Yankees. A stress fracture in a key area can be stubborn, and the organization’s cautious approach, reflected in the staged clearances Boone described, suggests the Yankees intend to avoid rushing the final act of recovery. If Judge’s progression continues to stay on track, his return to live baseball activities could become one of the most consequential developments for New York’s late-season performance. But for now, the focus remains on whether tee work and the expanded workload continue to feel stable day to day.