Aaron Judge Spent Monday Night at the US Open. Tuesday, the Spotlight Returns to No. 99

NEW YORK — For one more night, Aaron Judge could simply be a spectator.

On Monday, the Yankees captain was spotted attending the US Open with his wife, Samantha, taking advantage of New York’s scheduled day off before what is expected to be one of the most closely watched returns of the Yankees’ season.

By Tuesday night, Judge will be the attraction again.

The Yankees officially reinstated the three-time American League MVP from the 60-day injured list Monday, clearing the way for his return against the Colorado Rockies at Yankee Stadium.

It will be his first Major League game since May 31.

That makes the image of Judge relaxing at the US Open particularly fitting.

For months, he has watched.

He watched the Yankees continue without him. He watched teammates absorb greater responsibility. He watched an American League race develop while he rehabilitated an injury that ultimately cost him 84 games.

Monday night provided one final opportunity to watch somebody else compete.

Tuesday, everybody watches Judge.

The Yankees have been waiting more than three months for that reversal.

Judge’s absence began after a right rib injury forced him from the lineup. Before going down, the 34-year-old had played 59 games, hitting .248 with 17 home runs and 38 RBIs.

New York survived.

But surviving without Aaron Judge and becoming the best version of the Yankees are different things.

The club went 45-39 during the 84 games he missed. More revealing was what happened offensively. The Yankees hit .227 during that stretch, ranking 29th among Major League teams in batting average.

Now their most imposing hitter returns.

Judge did not take the conventional route back.

There was no Minor League rehab assignment. Instead, he traveled with the Yankees during their recent West Coast trip, increased his baseball workload, took batting practice on the field in San Diego and ran the bases.

On Monday, he faced live pitching at Yankee Stadium.

Then the Yankees activated him.

A few hours later, Judge was at the US Open.

It would be easy to turn that sequence into something more dramatic than it needs to be.

It isn’t.

Athletes have lives outside their stadiums. Judge attending a tennis match the night before his return is not evidence of anything about how he will perform Tuesday.

If anything, the moment provides an interesting contrast.

Monday was normal.

Tuesday will not be.

Every Judge swing will be examined.

Every hard-hit ball will generate optimism. Every strikeout could produce questions about timing. Every run down the first-base line will be watched for evidence of how his body responds.

That is what happens when the captain of the Yankees returns after missing more than half a season.

The smartest evaluation will require patience.

Judge does not need to hit a home run in his first game to make the comeback successful.

He needs at-bats.

He needs Major League velocity.

He needs to experience the physical demands of playing, recovering and playing again.

And the Yankees need him available beyond one emotional night in the Bronx.

There is urgency, however.

New York enters Tuesday at 81-62 with 19 games remaining. The Yankees are four games behind Tampa Bay in the AL East while holding a two-game advantage over Boston for the top American League Wild Card position.

There is enough schedule remaining for Judge to make a difference.

There is not enough for New York to treat September casually.

That is what makes Monday night’s scene memorable.

A superstar surrounded by tennis fans.

A husband spending an evening with his wife.

A baseball player enjoying one final night without a box score attached to his name.

Then Tuesday arrives.

The pinstripes return.

The crowd stands.

No. 99 walks toward the plate.

And after 84 games spent watching, Aaron Judge finally becomes the player everyone else is watching again.