The New York Yankees will have Aaron Judge back if they return to play this season.

During a video call on Thursday, Brian Cashman revealed that the Yankees never expected Judge to be ready before the summer.

"Ultimately, the broken rib that Aaron Judge suffered, it's in an area that the blood flow to that region is more difficult," Cashman said of the rib injury -- as well as the subsequent punctured lung -- that Judge has attributed to an attempted catch Sept. 18 against the Angels at Yankee Stadium.

"Blood flow is a significant part of the healing, so that's why the time frame is longer. When it happened, I always felt that we wouldn't see Judge more likely until the summertime."