Yankees’ Aaron Judge to Miss Significant Time with Rib Stress Fracture

A seismic blow to the Yankees’ lineup: Aaron Judge has been diagnosed with a stress fracture in his right rib, sidelining him for weeks and reshaping the team’s summer trajectory.

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The Diagnosis and Medical Outlook

On June 4, 2026, the Yankees announced that Aaron Judge has sustained a stress fracture in the first rib on his right side. He will rest and undergo re‑imaging in approximately four to six weeks to assess healing, with the expectation that he will return at some point this season . Manager Aaron Boone confirmed that Judge underwent MRI and CT scans earlier in the week and was evaluated by a specialist in Dallas, dispelling initial fears of thoracic outlet syndrome . Stress fractures typically require six to eight weeks for recovery before resuming full activity, according to orthopedic experts . Given Judge’s need for ramp‑up and rehab assignments, a realistic return timeline likely extends into mid‑to‑late August.

Judge’s Injury History and Performance Context

This marks the second known stress fracture in Judge’s ribs—the first occurred in March 2020, though he missed no time thanks to the pandemic‑shortened season . At age 34, Judge entered 2026 slashing .248 with 17 home runs, 38 RBIs, and an OPS+ of 152 across 59 games (261 plate appearances) . Notably, his production dipped in recent weeks, with just one homer in his last 18 games .