Aaron Judge has been absent from the Yankees’ lineup since suffering a toe injury on June 3, but his recovery could be coming sooner than initially expected..
Judge has a torn ligament in his right big toe stemming from his running into the right-field wall at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, and while surgery was a possibility for the Yankees star, it appears he might be able to avoid that.
“There’s talk of surgery, but I don’t think we’re at that [point],” Judge said on July 4. “I’m not a doctor. I have no idea. They throw around eight different things.”
Judge was following up his sensational 2022 campaign with another outstanding season in 2023, slashing .291/.404/.674 with 19 home runs in just 49 games, putting him on pace for 63 home runs over a 162-game season. He was named an All-Star starter, though he was unable to play in the game.
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Without the reigning AL MVP in the lineup, the Bronx Bombers have gone 15-21 with their offense scuffling in his absence. They’ve also dropped to dead last in the AL East after being in third ahead of the All-Star Break.
Here’s what you need to know about Judge’s injury, and when he could return.
When is Aaron Judge coming back?
Judge isn’t back in the lineup for the Yankees, but he is at least back on the field.
Prior to the team’s July 23 game against the Royals, Judge faced live-speed pitching for the first time since the injury. He took swings against fellow rehabbing Yankee Jonathan Loaisiga in a simulated game.
Aaron Judge and Jonathan Loaisiga faced off in a simulated game earlier today. pic.twitter.com/va5WLI9U0S
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) July 23, 2023
Before New York’s July 19 game against the Angels, Judge was seen running and testing out his toe.
This is new. Aaron Judge testing his injured big toe on the bases right now at Anaheim. pic.twitter.com/idk8o6PVjM
— Pete Caldera (@pcaldera) July 19, 2023
Last week, Judge also took batting practice and ran at Coors Field. According to The Associated Press, Judge said he was wearing an insole to help support his toe.
“I kind of wanted to test it here in the Mile High City a little bit,” Judge said, per the AP.
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Manager Aaron Boone said Judge has made plenty of progress, and after initial concerns that he might miss the remainder of the season, he expressed optimism that Judge could return not only in 2023, but possibly in July, though he stressed that does not mean that he is guaranteed to be back in July.
“I think there’s a shot,” Boone said of Judge playing in July. “Now is that going to be, ‘Aaron Boone said he thinks he’ll be back in July?’ That’s not what I said. I was answering a question. I’m not going to put a time frame on this. He’s doing well. He’ll be ready when he’s ready.”
As Judge had previously mentioned, he doesn’t know when he can return because the injury is rare. On July 4, Judge offered an update, saying surgery is on the table, but he’s not “at that point yet.” Still, he’s on the mend and rehabbing.
“I’m feeling good, not great yet. We’re getting there,” Judge said back on July 4. “I’ve got to be able to run. If I can run, then I can play. Me running at 10 percent [isn’t] going to help anybody out there.”
Toe ligament tear recovery time
A toe ligament tear, to the degree described by the AP, would be more than just Grade 1 turf toe, which is a stretch or sprain of the big toe. It could be closer to Grade 2 or Grade 3 turf toe, per the Cleveland Clinic; that’s when the soft tissue complex partially tears (Grade 2) or is more completely torn (Grade 3).
According to Mass General Brigham, if the injury is Grade 3 turf toe, Judge could take two to six months to recover, depending on whether surgery is needed. Two months would sideline Judge until August, while any other timeline would put the remainder of his 2023 campaign in jeopardy.
