Aaron Judge Moved to 60-Day IL; Yankees 18-20 Since Captain's Fractured Rib

The New York Yankees moved captain Aaron Judge to the 60-day injured list Saturday as he continues to recover from a fractured rib sustained May 31.

The New York Yankees officially moved captain Aaron Judge to the 60-day injured list on Saturday afternoon to facilitate a 40-man roster addition. Sidelined since May 31 with a fractured rib, the 34-year-old outfielder currently holds a .248 batting average with 17 home runs and 38 RBIs through 59 games. Before his departure to the IL, Judge struggled with just one home run across his final 18 appearances. New York held a 36-23 record when their superstar last played but has since posted an 18-20 mark in his absence. This roster maneuver opened a spot for right-hander Bradley Hanner, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before he was optioned back to the RailRiders.

Medical Status and Scanning Schedule

An Aaron Judge injury update indicates the captain requires another scan before a major ramp-up of physical activity can occur. During the All-Star break, Dr. Gregory J. Pearl, chair of vascular surgery at Baylor Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital, reviewed a previous scan of the fractured rib. Manager Aaron Boone noted that while healing is evident, the slugger remains unable to participate in baseball activities. The timing of the next medical imaging session depends entirely on when the player becomes asymptomatic. Boone described the current sensation as shifting from a sharp pain to more of a pull, noting that the discomfort has subsided somewhat over the last two weeks.

Pitching Reinforcements and Rehab Progress

Right-hander Clarke Schmidt, 30, threw 15 pitches in his first batting practice session since undergoing Tommy John surgery on July 11 of last year. Schmidt reached 95 mph while facing Anthony Volpe and Ali Sanchez, utilizing a mix of four-seamers, sinkers, and cutters. He notably excluded sliders, sweepers, and knuckle-curves from this initial display. Schmidt, who had an internal brace during this procedure, previously underwent the same surgery in May 2017, just one month before New York selected him 16th overall in the amateur draft. He is scheduled to throw another batting practice in four or five days and expressed a willingness to return as a reliever, opener, or bridge pitcher later this season.

Left-hander Max Fried is also progressing following a left elbow bone bruise suffered on May 14. In a rehab start for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre against Worcester on Friday, Fried threw 52 pitches over three innings. He allowed two runs and five hits while recording three strikeouts and zero walks. His next outing is slated for five days from now, with an expected increase in pitch count. Additionally, designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton is nearing a return from a strained right calf that has kept him out since April 24. Stanton has been hitting and is one week into a running progression, though he has not yet begun running the bases following a setback roughly one month ago.

Minor League Developments and Roster Depth

Shortstop prospect George Lombard Jr. returned from the injured list for the RailRiders on Friday night, finishing 2 for 3 with a home run and a walk. The 21-year-old had been out since June 16 due to sprained fingers on his left hand. Through 43 games at the Triple-A level, Lombard is hitting .239 with five home runs, 16 RBIs, and eight stolen bases. Manager Aaron Boone indicated that the young infielder is pushing himself into the major league conversation as he continues to stack successful days of development. These updates come as the Yankees prepare for a rescheduled day-night doubleheader on Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers after a Saturday rainout.