Aaron Judge injury update fuels return speculation

As the New York Yankees start a six-game swing through California on Monday, an important missing piece of the lineup will be making the trip as well.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone announced on Sunday that injured slugger Aaron Judge will accompany the team on their upcoming West Coast swing as New York visits the Los Angeles Angels and San Diego Padres. Judge has been out of action since May 31, recovering from a right rib fracture.

"I'm sure it will be ramped up and a lot more involved," Boone told reporters on Sunday of Judge's baseball activities, via Bryan Hoch of mlb.com. "Hopefully out there, [Judge will] start to get on velocity and things like that. He'll be part of the pregame stuff and just get more entrenched into getting ready to come back."

A potential Aaron Judge timeline for return to Yankees comes into focus

How Judge responds to his physical activity being increased could well determine exactly when he will be back in the Yankees lineup. After the six-game road trip through Anaheim and San Diego, New York returns home for a six-game homestand against the Colorado Rockies and New York Mets beginning on September 8. 

That timeline, however, could only happen if the Yankees and Judge agree that a minor league rehab stint isn't necessary. Judge has stated that he would prefer to skip any kind of minor league appearance, which would only slow down his return to the New York lineup.

Judge has played in just 59 games so far this season, but has repeatedly shown his value to the New York offense when he has played. Through his first 261 plate appearances of the season, the two-time reigning American League MVP has posted a .907 OPS with 17 home runs. He is tied for fourth on the team in homers (just one behind Trent Grisham and Jazz Chisholm Jr., who are tied for second with 18) despite missing so much time.

The Yankees entered Sunday's action 4.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East and in control of the top AL wild-card spot, leading the Boston Red Sox by three games for that position.

After Sunday, the Yankees will have 25 games left in the season, so time is ticking for Judge's return to be ready and locked in for the postseason.