{
  "id": 6202226,
  "title": "Yankees activate Aaron Judge after three-month layoff",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/yankees-activate-aaron-judge-after-three-month-layoff",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-08T00:40:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/yankees-activate-aaron-judge-three-004018748.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "New York City, NY - August 26, 2026 - Aaron Judge, the captain of the New York Yankees, is back in action following an extensive three-month absence due to a right rib fracture. Judge's return was officially confirmed by the Yankees, who made it clear that they are eager to see their star player back on the field. This news comes after the YES Network had previously teased Judge's return on social media. Judge's anticipated comeback has generated significant excitement among the team and its fan base, who are desperate to see their star player healthy and active again. Before his injury, Judge was a top-performing player, boasting a 1.060 OPS on May 5th. The Yankees' offense was also exceptional with Judge on the roster, with their 116 wRC+ ranking among the best in the league on May 30th. Since his absence, the team's performance has significantly declined, ranking 29th in MLB with a 90 wRC+. Despite these challenges, the Yankees remain optimistic about their chances of winning the World Series this season, now that Judge is back in the lineup. Judge will now face the Colorado Rockies on September 8th, having not faced in-game pitching since May. Fans and analysts alike are curious to see how he will perform after such a long layoff, but with the Yankees' strong roster and a desperate need for Judge's presence, expectations are high for a successful return and a potential World Series run.",
  "summary": "The wait is over: Aaron Judge is back.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Yankees facing predicament that could delay Aaron Judge’s return",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/yankees-facing-predicament-that-could-delay-aaron-judges-return",
        "published": "2026-09-06T19:00:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}