MIAMI — Aaron Judge appears poised to make his return to the New York Yankees lineup when the team travels to Texas this week. But Yankees legend David Cone‘s warning about the superstar’s throwing arm has cast an ominous shadow over what should be a celebratory comeback.
The Yankees captain has been sidelined with a right flexor strain since last week. Judge avoided a worst-case scenario diagnosis after initial fears of UCL damage. However, the injury has raised serious questions about his future defensive capabilities.
Judge begins ramp-up in Miami
Judge took swings on the field with teammates Friday at loanDepot park, the first such session since he landed on the injured list with a right flexor strain last week. He plans to continue hitting through the weekend before flying to the Yankees’ complex in Tampa on Sunday. There, he’ll face live pitching in simulated at-bats while the team wraps up its road trip against the Marlins.
If all goes smoothly, Judge is expected to be activated on Tuesday or Wednesday against the Rangers in Arlington. The Yankees are eyeing a DH-only role for his return, as the slugger has yet to resume throwing.
Manager Aaron Boone confirmed the plan: “He’s hitting now. The hope is to get him live at-bats in Tampa and then make a call before we get to Texas.”
Outfield depth eases pressure — for now
The Yankees aren’t hurting for defensive options. Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham, and Jasson Domínguez have all made strong cases to play every day. Grisham blasted his career-high 19th homer Friday night. Domínguez collected three hits, while Bellinger — one of the Yankees’ steadiest bats this summer — added two RBIs. Newcomer Austin Slater, acquired at the deadline, also provides coverage with strong splits against left-handed pitching.
Still, it’s clear the offense is stronger with Judge and Stanton both in the lineup — even if the defensive balance gets disrupted.
Cone rings alarm over Judge’s throwing arm
While Judge dodged a major injury — avoiding damage to his UCL — broadcaster and former Yankees pitcher David Cone sounded a cautious tone during a recent Amazon Prime broadcast.
“You don’t want to mess with that arm,” Cone said during Tuesday’s game against the Rays. “One big throw could lead to something else.”
He warned that pushing Judge into the field too early could risk further complications, potentially forcing a longer absence.
Injury expert: ‘This is worse than a UCL tear’
Renowned sports injury analyst Will Carroll took Cone’s concern a step further. On ‘Foul Territory TV,’ Carroll described the strain as potentially more damaging than a torn ligament.
“This is worse than the UCL tear,” Carroll claimed. “Without this, [Judge] cannot play… This doesn’t heal quickly. This small, little tendon, which overlaps with the UCL, often takes a month or even more to heal up. He’s not going to be able to throw… For Judge, this is bad. For the Yankees, this is bad.”
Judge suffered the injury on July 22 in Toronto. After making a throw home in the sixth inning, he was seen flexing his arm in discomfort. A second throw in the seventh deepened the concern. He was placed on the injured list soon after and underwent imaging to rule out ligament damage.
DH-only role creates roster puzzle
When Judge returns, he will be available strictly in a designated hitter role. He remains unable to throw while going through a shutdown period. Eventually, Judge will begin ramping back up in a throwing program. However, he won’t be available defensively for what could be an extended stretch.
This limitation creates an intriguing roster puzzle for the Yankees. Giancarlo Stanton returning to the outfield for the first time since 2023 could come into play. Stanton homered again on Friday, launching a 116-mph missile to leftin the Yankees’ crushing 13-12 walk-off loss to the Marlins. He now has nine homers in his last 12 games.
If Judge needs to be penciled in strictly at DH for a while, Stanton needs to find another way to get into the lineup. He now has nine homers in his last 12 games, making him too hot to keep on the bench.
“It’s not ideal,” Boone admitted earlier in the week. “But we need both of their bats right now.”
Stanton hasn’t played the outfield since 2023. But with Judge’s injury and a stacked outfield group, his flexibility could be tested.
Timeline for full return remains uncertain
Even as Judge prepares to return as a designated hitter, the question remains: when will he be available defensively? The Yankees have not offered a timeline for his throwing program to resume.
Boone acknowledged that Judge will need a gradual ramp-up in throwing — likely weeks, not days.
That uncertainty is now shaping roster decisions. The club’s trade deadline acquisitions focused heavily on bullpen upgrades rather than outfield help, a move that shows confidence in the current crop — and also belief that Judge may not return to right field anytime soon.
Postseason implications loom large
The Yankees currently sit in a tight race for playoff positioning. With Gerrit Cole out for the year and a reshuffled rotation relying on rookies Will Warren and Cam Schlittler, the lineup has become even more vital. The absence of Judge in the field puts additional strain on the club’s depth and strategy.
In short: New York needs Judge’s bat, but can’t afford to risk losing him for the stretch run.
“Ultimately, we’ll do what’s best for him and the team,” Boone said. That balance — maximizing offense without sacrificing long-term health — will define the Yankees’ next few weeks.
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