NEW YORK — The New York Yankees are navigating a crucial stretch of their 2025 season with cautious optimism on two major injury fronts. Captain Aaron Judge’s rehab continues to spark questions about his timeline and future role, while young right-hander Luis Gil is officially set to return to the rotation with a start against the Miami Marlins on Sunday.
The developments offer both encouragement and concern for a Yankees club still in postseason contention but grappling with a battered roster.
Judge progresses, but concerns linger
JASON SZENES @NYP
Aaron Judge took live batting practice over the weekend, a key milestone in his rehab from a flexor tendon strain in his right elbow. The Yankees placed the reigning AL MVP on the 10-day injured list on July 27 after he struggled to throw beyond 60 feet. Though his MRI showed no structural damage to the UCL, the flexor issue has limited him to designated hitter duties when he returns.
Judge reportedly faced minor league pitchers and took aggressive swings without any visible setbacks. Manager Aaron Boone called the session “a positive step,” but made it clear the Yankees will tread carefully.
“He’s still got to get to the point where we feel like he can do everything,” Boone said. “He felt good. No issues swinging.”
However, the Yankees have not offered a concrete timeline for Judge’s return to full defensive action. For now, the expectation is that he’ll resume play in a limited DH role once activated, likely within the first week of August.
The situation mirrors past injury scenarios with Judge, where initial optimism gives way to longer-than-expected absences. Sports injury analyst Will Carroll, appearing on Foul Territory, raised eyebrows by saying, “This is worse than a UCL tear,” referring to the flexor strain. He emphasized that this kind of injury “doesn’t heal with rest alone” and warned it could linger throughout the season.
Judge’s absence in the outfield has exposed the Yankees’ lack of defensive depth, especially after Oswaldo Cabrera’s ankle injury earlier this month. With Trent Grisham starting in center and Cody Bellinger often manning right field, the team has made patchwork adjustments. But the offense remains built around Judge’s power and presence in the lineup.
Luis Gil returns to Yankees rotation after strong rehab
MLB
In more definitive news, Luis Gil is officially back. The 27-year-old right-hander will make his first MLB start of the 2025 season Sunday against the Marlins at Yankee Stadium. Gil last pitched in the majors in 2022 before undergoing Tommy John surgery. His return comes after four minor league rehab starts, including a dominant final outing with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Gil struck out eight over 4.1 scoreless innings in that appearance, flashing his upper-90s fastball and a sharp slider that drew 13 whiffs on 41 pitches. Yankees brass reportedly came away impressed with both the velocity and command.
“He looked really good,” Boone said. “It’s the kind of stuff that can play up here.”
Gil’s return is timely. With both Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt out for the season and Marcus Stroman is battling inconsistency, the Yankees’ rotation depth has been stretched thin.
Gil is expected to slide into a middle-of-the-rotation role immediately. The Yankees are hopeful he can give them consistent length, even if he is initially capped at around 75 to 80 pitches per outing. Boone hinted that the club would “monitor his workload closely,” especially in August.
Balancing act: Reinforcements vs. realities
With the trade deadline looming Thursday, the Yankees’ front office faces critical decisions. Judge’s status affects how aggressively the team might pursue an outfielder. If he’s limited to DH, New York could target another glove-first player. On the mound, Gil’s return eases some of the rotation urgency, but questions remain if it’s enough to stabilize a shaky staff.
In recent weeks, the Yankees have been linked to Marlins starter Edward Cabrera and Arizona’s Merrill Kelly. But internal reinforcements like Gil and the potential DH return of Judge could shift priorities.
The Yankees currently sit third in the AL East, five games behind the Blue Jays. Their recent offensive inconsistencies and pitching fault;lines have magnified the need for help. Gil’s electric return and Judge’s gradual progression offer hope — but not certainty.
The road ahead
Aaron Judge’s return, though promising, is wrapped in limitations that suggest the Yankees’ captain may not be a full two-way contributor for the remainder of the regular season. The team is unlikely to rush him back into the outfield with the risk of aggravating the flexor tendon.
Meanwhile, Luis Gil’s long-awaited re-entry could prove to be a difference-maker down the stretch. If he continues to pitch the way he did in Triple-A, the Yankees may have found their best in-house rotation boost at just the right time.
Still, time is short. The Yankees have a narrow path forward — and each step, whether Judge’s swing or Gil’s fastball, will shape their postseason fate.
