New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge remains out of the lineup as he continues recovering from a first-rib stress fracture, an uncommon injury that has placed one of baseball's biggest stars in a holding pattern.
While Judge has expressed optimism about his progress, the Yankees have emphasized that his return will depend on continued healing rather than a fixed timetable. The injury has not only affected New York's lineup but has also reshaped conversations surrounding the American League playoff race and the MLB trade deadline as the club weighs how to compensate for the loss of its most productive hitter.
