Joey Votto defends Aaron Judge following his return to the Yankees lineup

Aaron Judge returned to the New York Yankees lineup on September 9, 2026, recording no hits in three at-bats with two strikeouts during a 5-3 win against the Colorado Rockies. The outfielder had been sidelined for over three months due to a rib injury, which initially required a 10-day stint on the injured list before being extended to 60 days. While his return was scoreless, Joey Votto expressed support for the slugger, suggesting that the dimensions of Yankee Stadium hinder his pull-side power hitting. Votto contended that Judge would record significantly higher home run totals if he played in more favorable ballparks. The Yankees, who struggled offensively during Judge’s absence, reinstated him to the active roster without a rehab assignment to prepare for an upcoming playoff run.

• 4:01 AMYahoo Sports — “Not Fair to Him’: Joey Votto Explains Why Aaron Judge’s Numbers Don’t Tell the Full Story