After 99 days, No. 99 and one of MLB’s biggest stars is back in action.
The Yankees have activated three-time American League Most Valuable Player and star outfielder Aaron Judge from the 60-day disabled list. Judge has been out of action with a fractured rib since early June, and his return brings back one of MLB’s foremost fan attractions.
Already, ticket prices are quickly rising on the resale market for Judge’s first game back, which will be Tuesday night at home against the Rockies. As of Tuesday morning, the average get-in price for the game was $87, more than twice the comparable level from Saturday and far higher than what a midweek game against a lowly Colorado team would normally fetch.
Anticipation is quickly rising for Judge’s return after the longest injury of his storied career. Judge last played on May 31, and was placed on the injured list five days later. Judge is returning to major league play without any type of minor-league rehabilitation assignment.
Notably, that Yankees-Rockies game previously saw a wild rise and fall in resale pricing, unrelated to Judge and his injury. The contest is also on the Yankees’ promotion calendar, with the first 40,000 fans receiving a trading card from the Naruto manga series. Initial hype around that giveaway among manga fans briefly drove resale pricing for the game beyond $250 per ticket in early August. After the card design was revealed and the giveaway was expanded beyond an initial 18,000, demand plummeted.
Meanwhile, the Yankees have held their own without Judge, posting a 45-39 record without him and solidifying their hold on the AL’s top wild card slot. With Judge coming back and the Yankees’ oft-injured pitching staff also returning to full health, New York is aiming to position itself as a serious contender in October and break a 17-year championship drought.
The AL East division title and a first-round bye in the playoffs are also within reach as the Yankees are four games behind the Rays, and the two teams have four games scheduled at Yankee Stadium later this month.
The Judge situation also is a boon for the YES Network, the Yankees-controlled regional sports network that will air Tuesday’s game. The RSN began promoting Judge’s return on Monday, and plans extensive pre- and postgame coverage about Judge on Tuesday.
Ohtani Status
Shohei Ohtani, perhaps the only superior to Judge in terms of fame and stature among MLB stars, said he “most likely” won’t pitch the rest of this year after battling a series of nagging injuries during much of the 2026 season.
Ohtani has not pitched in a game since early July, and has continued to battle soreness in his left knee and right biceps. Those issues have also helped contribute to a recent slump at the plate, as well as a four-day absence this past weekend from playing altogether.
During all of August, Ohtani hit just .241 and had a .472 slugging percentage, each far below his normal levels. While the Dodgers remain the betting favorite to win a third straight World Series, the team is approaching October in a comparatively weaker position.
“Yes, he loves pitching, loves being a two-way player,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Ohtani. “But right now, it just doesn’t make any sense.”
