When Will Aaron Judge Return From Injury? Fantasy Baseball Injury Update

June 21, 2023

When will Aaron Judge return from injury? What should fantasy baseball managers do until he returns? Pranav Uppalapati takes a deeper look at how Judge return impacts fantasy baseball.

New York Yankees megastar Aaron Judge has been out for nearly three weeks with a sprained right toe. In his absence, the Yankees have struggled with just five wins in 13 games since he sprained his toe on June 3.

Significant swelling in his right toe has hampered his recovery and set back any projected timeline by weeks. The Yankees have insisted on playing it safe with Judge to avoid any further damage to his right toe. While there is no official timetable for his return, recent developments may indicate when a return may happen.

When will Judge return to a major league field? Let's take a look at the latest reports and find an answer.

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Aaron Judge Injury Update

Aaron Judge first injured his toe while making a spectacular catch in right field, running into the bullpen gate in an away game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 3. The Yankees looked at Judge after the collision in the eighth inning and deemed him safe to return. Not much was made of Judge's health afterward, as he confirmed he was doing well in post-game interviews.

But the following day, Judge was placed on the injured list with a right toe sprain.

While little information has come out regarding Judge's injury, manager Aaron Boone revealed that Judge was "turning a corner" in his injury rehab, as his second PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injection had significantly reduced swelling. Despite that, Judge has still not begun baseball activities.

The Yankees have yet to create a timetable, but all signs point to a July return for the 31-year-old. With Andrew Cashman saying that they will take their time with Judge, they may wait until after the All-Star break (July 10).

Aaron Judge Fantasy Baseball Outlook

In Judge's absence, the Yankees have bandaged together their outfield with Jake Bauers, Billy McKinney, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Since Judge's injury, Jake Bauers sports a .585 OPS, Kiner-Falefa a .655 OPS, and Billy McKinney holds an impressive .887 OPS since he was called up on June 8.

For the time being, there will likely be an open spot in left field. While McKinney has far and away been the most impressive hitter since June 4, it is yet to be seen whether he holds onto a starting spot when Judge returns.

As the fulcrum of this Yankees offense, Aaron Judge's return will boost the production of nearly every regular in this Yankees lineup. Anyone who rosters Judge should continue to do so.

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