NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees have transferred captain Aaron Judge to the 60-day injured list, and team officials say the slugger will require an additional medical scan before doctors allow him to significantly increase his workload as a fractured rib continues to mend.
Judge has been out of action since May 31. During the All-Star break, he underwent a scan that was examined by Dr. Gregory J. Pearl, who chairs the department of vascular surgery at Baylor Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital in Texas.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone addressed the situation following the postponement of a scheduled game against the Los Angeles Dodgers due to rain — a contest rescheduled as part of a Sunday doubleheader. “Obviously healing going on, which is good, but still not able to start any baseball activities or anything,” Boone said.
Boone explained that Judge must first reach a pain-free state before doctors can push him harder. “He needs to get to a point to where he’s asymptomatic to where you really start ramping up more upper body stuff,” the manager said.
At the time of his injury, Judge was batting .248 with 17 home runs and 38 RBIs, though he had managed just one homer across his final 18 games before landing on the injured list.
Boone offered some encouraging news regarding Judge’s discomfort. “The good news is, you know, the pain is subsiding somewhat over the last couple weeks and changing from that sharp to more of that pull,” he said. “So hopefully he continues to improve there and then we can start upping things.”
The manager added that the timing of Judge’s next scan will be dictated by how the 34-year-old outfielder feels day to day.
New York’s record stood at 36-23 when Judge last took the field, but the team has gone just 18-20 in his absence.
The move to the 60-day IL was largely procedural, freeing up a spot on the 40-man roster for right-handed pitcher Bradley Hanner, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Hanner was subsequently optioned back to the RailRiders.
On a more optimistic note, right-hander Clarke Schmidt reached a significant milestone in his own recovery Saturday, facing live hitters in batting practice for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery on July 11 of last year. The 30-year-old said he topped out at 95 mph during the session.
Schmidt worked through 15 pitches to Anthony Volpe and Ali Sánchez, mixing four-seamers, sinkers, and cutters — though he held off on sliders, sweepers, and knuckle-curves.
“Not full game feeling with the butterflies and stuff like that, but close to it,” Schmidt said. “To be able to put your stuff on display and be able to get back out there after a year is a good feeling.”
This was actually Schmidt’s second Tommy John procedure. His first came in May 2017, just a month before the Yankees selected him with the 16th overall pick in the amateur draft. This most recent surgery included an internal brace.
Schmidt noted that the recovery has felt different this time around. “The first one, when you kind of start the bullpen phase, it feels a little yucky at times and you just have a lot more days where you’re like, ah, it doesn’t feel great,” he said. “It just feels a little more easier where it’s like I don’t have to reach back and have those days where you’re grinding a little bit.”
His next batting practice session is planned for four or five days from now. Schmidt may return before the season ends as a reliever and expressed openness to pitching as an opener or a bridge arm. “I know that we have a little more limited time for me this year as far as ability to build up the pitch count,” he said. “Obviously I’m open to everything as long as I’m out there competing and being able to help the guys. … I know I’ll be able to be back at some point in some facet this year.”
Boone also shared an update on designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton, who has been sidelined since April 24 with a strained right calf. “He is a week into the running progression, been hitting,” Boone said. “Obviously had a setback, whenever, three, four weeks ago now, but he seems to be moving in a good direction so hopefully getting close.” Stanton has not yet run the bases.
Left-hander Max Fried, who has been out since May 14 with a left elbow bone bruise, made his first rehab appearance Friday for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre against Worcester. He allowed two runs and five hits over three innings, striking out three without issuing a walk. “He looked really good. I watched his whole outing,” Boone said. “He felt really good. So 52 pitches, so another one in five days. We’ll up that and we’ll see what we’re at from there.”
Shortstop prospect George Lombard Jr. also made his return Friday night, going 2-for-3 with a home run and a walk for the RailRiders. The 21-year-old son of a former major leaguer had been out since June 16 with sprained fingers on his left hand. Lombard is hitting .239 with five home runs, 16 RBIs, and eight stolen bases in 43 Triple-A games. “Obviously it’s no secret how highly we think of George,” Boone said. “Had a good game last night, obviously, so he’s certainly more and more in his development pushing himself into the conversation.” Boone added that he wants Lombard to build on the momentum. “I want him to get going here coming off the injury and start stacking some days.”
