Yankees place Aaron Judge on 60-day injured list

The New York Yankees have moved star outfielder and captain Aaron Judge to the 60-day injured list as he continues to recover from a fractured rib, with his return still dependent on further medical evaluation. The procedural move, made on July 18, was to open a roster spot, but it underscores the extended timeline for Judge's recovery from an injury that has sidelined him since May 31.

Judge underwent imaging during the All-Star break that showed his rib is healing, which the team described as a positive sign. However, the healing is not yet complete, and he has not been cleared to begin any baseball activities or upper-body exercises. The Yankees are awaiting final guidance from Dr. Gregory J. Pearl, a Dallas-based vascular surgeon and rib specialist who consulted on the initial diagnosis, to determine the next steps.

Manager Aaron Boone said Judge's pain has been subsiding and changing in character recently, but the slugger must be asymptomatic before a significant ramp-up in activity can begin. Judge himself expressed frustration with the cautious approach, stating he feels "ten times better" than when he first got injured but understands the team's desire to avoid a...