NEW YORK — Aaron Judge is back in the Yankees lineup, but his return has created a recurring disagreement over how quickly he should resume a full workload. The Yankees captain wants to resume full-time duty as quickly as possible. Boone intends to control his innings and rest days during New York’s AL East pursuit.
The Yankees need their three-time American League MVP after an 84-game absence, with only 18 regular-season games remaining. Boone must balance immediate victories against the risk of overworking a player who skipped a conventional rehabilitation assignment.
Judge returned Tuesday at Yankee Stadium, where 46,211 fans watched the Yankees beat Colorado 5-3. He batted third, played six innings in right field and went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. His replacement, Heliot Ramos, hit a crucial three-run homer in the eighth.
Judge’s fractured right first rib dates to an April 26 diving attempt in Houston. He last played May 31 and was reinstated from the 60-day injured list Monday. Although asymptomatic, he still needs to rebuild game-level endurance. The Yankees agreed to complete that process in the majors.
Two refusals frame Yankees comeback
After Trent Grisham reinjured his right hamstring Friday in San Diego, Judge appeared at Boone’s hotel door and offered to play the next day. Boone refused because the captain still needed to complete rehabilitation requirements, including live hitting.
Judge had resumed on-field batting practice only that week. Monday, he faced live pitching, ran the bases and simulated defensive work at Yankee Stadium. After medical clearance, Boone consulted general manager Brian Cashman and owner Hal Steinbrenner before activation.
The Yankees captain has repeatedly made clear that he wanted to return sooner. After Tuesday’s game, Judge described the medical requirements that had delayed him:
“I wanted to come back a couple months ago, but I’m not a trainer, so I gotta check whatever boxes they got.”
The Yankees agreed to skip a minor league rehab assignment, but Boone retained the workload restrictions. Before Tuesday’s game, he announced that Judge would leave early and receive a day off during the Colorado series.
Judge pushes back, Boone keeps control
The plan became contentious when Boone removed Judge before the seventh with New York leading 2-1. The two spoke at length on the Yankees dugout steps. Judge argued that Cam Schlittler’s dominance meant little defensive action and questioned the difference between six innings and nine.
Boone acknowledged the captain’s reaction after the game. He laughed while describing how Judge received the decision:
“He was not real pleased with me for taking him out.”
Judge also made clear that he would follow his manager’s instructions despite his disappointment:
“I respect Boonie so whatever he says I’m gonna do, but not happy about it.”
The Yankees captain accepted Boone’s authority and praised Heliot Ramos. Boone recognized his captain’s competitive drive. There is no evidence of a broader clubhouse split, a refusal to follow instructions or teammates taking sides.
The next test could come with the Yankees trailing or Judge due up in a critical late-inning situation. Boone has made the limits part of the comeback plan rather than leaving them to the captain’s assessment of his readiness.
Lineup cost behind Boone’s decision
The tradeoff became tangible Tuesday. Judge received three plate appearances before Ramos took his spot. In the eighth, Ben Rice walked and Cody Bellinger doubled before Ramos homered off Brennan Bernardino, turning a 2-1 lead into a 5-1 advantage.
The runs proved essential after Hunter Goodman hit a two-run homer off Tim Hill in the ninth. David Bednar struck out Mickey Moniak for his 32nd save. Schlittler improved to 13-6, allowing one run on three hits in seven innings with 10 strikeouts and no walks. Gabriel Hughes fell to 0-7.
The substitution worked, but it also exposed the potential cost. Judge lost his fourth turn in the order, which came with two runners in scoring position. A replacement will not always deliver a three-run homer. A similar decision could prove harder against a division rival.
The offensive numbers explain the urgency. New York went 45-39 without Judge, compared with 36-23 through his last appearance. The Yankees ranked 26th in MLB in runs scored during his absence. Judge had hit .248 with 17 home runs, 38 RBIs and a .907 OPS in 59 games.
Judge also restores a right-handed presence to the lefty-heavy Yankees lineup. Rice and Bellinger hit ahead of him Tuesday, with Luis García Jr. batting cleanup. Boone plans to use Judge primarily in right field, preserving designated hitter opportunities. Spencer Jones has moved to center while Grisham remains sidelined.
Next test comes with October approaching
The Yankees’ caution extends to defense. Boone wants Judge to avoid unnecessary diving risks while continuing to play right field. The Yankees have described him as asymptomatic, but that does not establish that he is ready for full-game workloads after three months away.
Judge offered a positive assessment of his physical condition after the opener, while acknowledging that his timing still needs work:
“I felt great; I just haven’t been in a live game or seen live pitching in three months, so it’s kind of like the start of the year.”
The Yankees enter Wednesday at 82-62, four games behind Tampa Bay and three ahead of Boston for the top AL wild-card position. They have clinched their 34th consecutive winning season, but postseason seeding remains unsettled.
The Yankees host Colorado Wednesday, with Will Warren scheduled to face Tomoyuki Sugano. Boone has not publicly committed to Judge’s rest day. The Mets arrive Friday for a three-game Subway Series, creating another test of the managed schedule.
For now, Boone retains control of the Yankees comeback, and Judge’s objections have not changed the plan. The next workload decisions will determine whether their disagreement remains a routine part of rehabilitation or creates further friction.
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