Aaron Judge Makes Emotional Remark As Possible Return From Injury On 9/11’s 25th Anniversary Looms

It was a seemingly good day for the Yankee nation despite the series-opening loss to the Padres in San Diego, as their team captain, Aaron Judge, took part in on-field batting practice for the first time since landing on the IL on May 31 due to a stress fracture in his right rib. The signs were promising, with many expecting Judge to return to the lineup a week or two before the postseason commences.

Yankees senior writer with MLB, Bryan Hoch , shared what Judge had to say about his potential return timeline while offering his own prediction, unofficially marking September 11, the opening game of the Subway Series against the Mets in the Bronx, as the day Judge could be added to the active hitting lineup.

"If I'm playing or not playing, it's going to be special. It's going to be a big day. That impacted not only a lot of New Yorkers but the whole world and our whole country. … I don't know about playing or not playing, but I'll definitely be there and soaking it all in," Judge said in response to a potential return on 9/11.

During an on-field interview with reporters after his batting practice, Judge also revealed that he had been hitting in the batting cages since the medical team cleared him for baseball activities. Furthermore, the three-time AL MVP said his goal was to resume playing in the Yankees' pinstripes sometime during the next homestand.

Aaron Judge Shuns Minor-League Rehab and Instead Aims to Join the Active Roster

Speaking about the ongoing baseball activities beyond hitting, Judge said he is actively engaged in other aspects of the game to fully prepare for the upcoming homestand against the Rockies and the Mets.

"We're hitting all the baseball stuff. Throwing to bases, throwing, running the bases. Hitting, getting on the field, moving around. I think [we need to] face some live pitching and then I'll get back out there," Judge said via MLB.com .

When asked about a potential minor-league rehab game before being reactivated to the roster, Judge, eager to get back on the field, said he saw no use for it under the current circumstances.

"I don't see a point. Why waste at-bats? They haven't told me they wanted me to do one, so we'll see," Judge said via The Athletic .

As for the Yankees, they are currently just four games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East standings as the race for the division title heats up with just 21 games left in the regular season.

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