Yankees: Aaron Judge Removed From IL; Not 100% Yet but Says He's in 'Good Spot Right Now'

(Photo : Al Bello/Getty Images) NEW YORK, NEW YORK - Aaron Judge (#99) of the New York Yankees takes batting practice with live pitching prior to their game against the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium on July 23, 2023, in Bronx borough of New York City.

The New York Yankees got their captain back as Aaron Judge returned to the field in the game against the Baltimore Orioles.

The star outfielder has been out since June 4, and the team has gone 19-23 since.

The Yankees have been cautious with Judge's rehab, and they find today as the best day to allow their star to return.

Judge, however, does not think he is at 100 percent already but assured fans that he is ready to go.

"My biggest concern was that I didn't want to come back and make it worse, and then this is something that leads into next year and the following year," he told reporters.

"We're at a point where, talking with a couple of doctors, the ligament is stable. The last couple of MRIs didn't really show much healing, but this one did. We're in a really good spot right now."

Manager Aaron Boone explains the decision to activate Judge

Rushing a return could be more disastrous, and manager Aaron Boone knows that.

Boone said it took him until 1 PM on Friday to decide whether the five-time All-Star could play. They also ensured the player was honest about his health condition despite his desire to be in action again.

"As much as there's urgency for us, we've got to be smart," Boone said. "We're talking to Aaron and making sure that he's honest with his feedback about how he's recovering, how he's bounced back and obviously how the toe is doing."