Yankees Officially Have 'No Idea' If Aaron Judge Will Return This Season

The New York Yankees' medical updates currently have the same level of clarity as a teenager explaining a dented bumper. According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, the team officially has "no idea" if Aaron Judge will play again this season.

General manager Brian Cashman recently told reporters he remains optimistic about his captain's return, but admitted he cannot rule out Judge missing the rest of 2026. Judge has not played since May 31 due to a right rib stress fracture, and he still has not been cleared for actual baseball activities.

"Bob Nightengale tweeted that the Yankees 'have no idea' if injured Aaron Judge will play again this season."

Before his rib decided to quit, Judge was doing standard Aaron Judge things. He crushed 17 home runs and posted a .908 OPS in 59 games. Since he went on the injured list, the Yankees have gone exactly 27-27.

Playing .500 baseball for two months is a polite way of saying a team is treading water while wearing concrete shoes. Without Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Giancarlo Stanton, the New York offense has completely cratered. Since June 1, they rank in the bottom five across the majors in runs per game, batting average, and on-base percentage.

Despite fielding a lineup that occasionally looks like a split-squad spring training roster, the Yankees are still clinging to the top American League Wild Card spot. They also sit just three and a half games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East, keeping their division hopes technically alive.

Anyone holding New York futures tickets or looking at their upcoming weekend series against the Arizona Diamondbacks has to price in a grim reality. Cashman called Judge's recovery a moving target, but right now, that target is completely off the board.