A single individual can make or break a team. Aaron Judge has proved that time and time again and June 2023 has been no different. Team sports rely on every single player’s abilities working in harmony to clinch a victory; it may be called a team but each ballplayer matters. With a strong presence like Judge has, the New York Yankees captain has proved his offensive as well as defensive power. Now, only if injuries didn’t hold him back.

Ever since he injured his toe on June 3, Aaron Judge’s MLB career has been put on hold indefinitely. The clubhouse gives updates now and then, but none are satisfactory enough for fans. Yet another recent update by the Yankees has left fans concerned for their team – can the Yankees survive without their captain?

When will Aaron Judge return?

Ever since the outfielder ran into the wall at Dodger Stadium, things have only gone downhill with chances of a comeback looking slimmer each day. Team manager Aaron Boone told MLB’s Bryan Hoch that Judge has returned to pool work and may upgrade to throwing at light hitting soon.

But since toe injuries take longer to heal than the rest of the body, the Yankees are reluctant to give a surer timeline than ‘soon’. Can Aaron Judge return sooner rather than later, though?

Aaron Judge’s injury details

For the longest time, Judge, Boone, and the rest of the Yankees have been giving vague details about what has really been going on with their outfielder. Originally said to be a sprain and contusion, more details have come to light. While admittedly there has been good reason for all the secrecy, fans have been unable to sit still and watch the Bronx Bombers’ progress take a hit.

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But Judge finally came forward with some depressing particulars. The Associated Press announced a few days ago that Judge has a torn ligament in his toe. It’s an unusual injury that is rarer to see in baseball players, so even professionals don’t have a surefire answer.

MLB insider Bryan Hoch personally got an update on the Aaron Judge toe injury as well, but the Yankees captain just said that he’s doing his best to recover from the Dodger Stadium blow.

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The Pinstripes have a long history of incredible players that have been proud to put on their jerseys and play it out on the diamond. While every club goes through ups and downs, they have talented players to call upon when one gets injured. Although Judge’s replacements have tried hard, no one can take his place.

Some fans are furious that right after signing a huge contract, the Yankees are facing another Aaron Judge injury season. No matter how good a ballplayer may be, injuries are evident. But no one likes it when they become a constant.

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The Yankees could do with their captain’s powerful presence in the clubhouse, lifting up their morale. A recent game showed the team looking utterly dejected at what was going on on the field. While Judge is present at his team’s games in the dugout, his lack of play seems to have put off the rest of the team.

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Some think it’s a ‘sympathy slump’ but while the sentiment behind it could be appreciated once or twice, the prolonged series of losses cannot be appreciated. The Yanks first baseman and friend of the captain, Anthony Rizzo, talked to the press a few weeks ago, where he said it’s unfair to put such pressure on a single player.

But while his words hold meaning, the reality is that the Yankees are in trouble. And there’s no timeline as to when this endless suffering will be over.

Toe ligament tear recovery time

To many, it seems like time has stopped. The healing progress on Aaron Judge’s toe ligament has been slower than most injuries. While it may seem like a relatively smaller body part, the severity of the injury hinders recovery. Bryan Hoch spoke to a sports orthopedic surgeon at NYU Langone Health to get a better idea of a timeline. While Dr. Spencer Stein has not treated Judge, he has been aware of the situation.

The fact that it was supposed to be a low-grade injury made for a quicker Aaron Judge comeback. “The fact that they’re using ‘tear’ now makes me think this is a little bit higher-grade injury and might require more time,” said Dr. Stein. While surgery is off the table for now, anything that could speed up the recovery process would be welcome.

“I’m not giving you any timeline. There’s no need,” Judge said when asked if he was targeting August for a return

Earlier, Aaron Boone stated that Judge might be healthy enough to play for the July 11 All-Star game, but it seems like the Yankees player is still having trouble even walking. So of course, running is out of the question. “Timelines are always tough, but I would say optimistically, my best guess would be [that Judge could return] two months from the date of injury,” Dr. Stein told Hoch.

But as for Judge himself, “I’m not giving you any timeline. There’s no need. I’ve just got to get better and then I’ll be out there.” No one is ready to give any absolutes because they may not happen. While that is a depressing reality, Bronx fans are eagerly awaiting an Aaron Judge comeback.

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