Aaron Judge returns to Yankees lineup from injured list

Aaron Judge is back.

The Yankees slugger and reigning AL MVP was activated from the injured list Tuesday and will play for New York against the Oakland A's. Judge has been sidelined due to a hip sprain since April 27, missing New York's past 10 games.

He missed just five games during his 2022 MVP season.

Judge sustained the injury April 26 on an awkward, head-first slide on a steal attempt against the Minnesota Twins. The Yankees led 5-0 at the time.

The 19-17 Yankees went 4-6 in his absence.

Judge said Monday that he's "ready to go" and hasn't felt an issue with his hip in several days. He also said he didn't regret the steal attempt in a game the Yankees led by five runs; he'd just change his technique next time.

“I’d steal again," Judge said, per MLB.com. "I just wouldn’t slide head-first.”

Judge won MVP last season while setting the AL single-season record with 62 home runs. He also led the league with 131 RBI.

In 26 games this season, Judge is slashing .261/.352/.511 with 6 home runs and 14 RBI. The Yankees are in last place in a competitive AL East, in which all five teams have a winning record, including the MLB-leading 29-7 Tampa Bay Rays.