​ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Aaron Judge will undergo further testing of his injured rib during the All-Star break, as the New York Yankees hold out hope that the results will indicate the three-time AL MVP is on the mend. Judge has not played since May 31 and was placed on the injured list June 5 after a CT scan, an MRI, and a consultation with a specialist confirmed a stress fracture in his right rib.
“We don’t want to risk a return while he’s still injured,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told reporters Thursday. “He should be asymptomatic before we turn him loose. If he’s asymptomatic and not feeling anything, and the medical images show healing, then it’s probably appropriate to start him up again. But we don’t want to, because the schedule is what it is, place him in a position where we could jeopardize the situation and see it worsen.”
The Yankees were 14-19 without Judge as they wrapped up a series against the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays. Cashman noted that the injury has limited Judge’s ability to train his upper body because any stress on the rib cage could impede recovery. The new imaging will provide a clearer indication of where he stands in his rehabilitation process.