Overview
- Judge, who has not played since May 31 with a right first‑rib stress fracture, traveled with the Yankees on Monday and will take part in expanded pregame activity on the six‑game West Coast trip.
- The club has progressed his work from tee drills and light throwing to indoor overhand batting practice and now plans to test him against higher‑velocity pitching as the key next checkpoint.
- Manager Aaron Boone said the team will ramp up Judge’s involvement in on‑field routines but does not expect to activate him during the current road trip.
- Judge has said he prefers to skip a minor‑league rehab assignment and return directly if cleared, but the Yankees will require symptom checks and imaging before approving any direct roster move.
- If Judge handles live pitching without setbacks, the Yankees view the Sept. 8 home series as a logical conditional target for his return and his availability could materially boost a lineup that has struggled in his absence.