Yankees Place Judge on 60-Day IL; Schmidt Throws Live Batting Practice After Surgery

The New York Yankees placed captain Aaron Judge on the 60-day injured list Saturday as the slugger continues recovering from a fractured rib sustained May 31. Manager Aaron Boone indicated Judge will require an additional imaging scan before ramping up baseball activities, with the timeline dependent on how the 34-year-old outfielder feels during his rehabilitation.

A medical review conducted during the All-Star break by Dr. Gregory J. Pearl, chair of vascular surgery at Baylor Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital in Texas, showed healing progress. However, Boone emphasized that Judge must become asymptomatic before increasing upper-body training, noting that pain has shifted from sharp to a pulling sensation over recent weeks.

Judge’s absence has significantly impacted the Yankees’ record. The team stood at 36-23 when Judge last played but has gone 18-20 without him. Prior to the injury, Judge was batting .248 with 17 home runs and 38 RBIs, including just one homer over his final 18 games.

Right-hander Bradley Hanner was brought up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to fill the roster spot created by Judge’s move, though Hanner was subsequently optioned back to the affiliate.

Clarke Schmidt threw batting practice for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery on July 11, reaching 95 mph during the session with Anthony Volpe and Ali Sánchez. The 30-year-old right-hander threw four-seamers, sinkers and cutters among 15 pitches while avoiding sliders, sweepers and knuckle-curves.

Schmidt said the experience felt close to actual game conditions despite the absence of in-game pressure. He will throw another batting practice session in four to five days and remains open to returning this season as a reliever, potential opener or bridge pitcher, acknowledging limited time to build pitch count before season’s end.

This marks Schmidt’s second Tommy John surgery, with his first occurring in May 2017, a month before the Yankees selected him 16th overall in the amateur draft. The latest procedure included an internal brace.

Designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton shows promise for an imminent return from a right calf strain dating to April 24. Boone reported Stanton is one week into his running progression while continuing hitting work, though he has not yet run the bases following a setback three to four weeks ago.

Left-hander Max Fried made his first minor league rehabilitation start Friday for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, allowing two runs and five hits over three innings with three strikeouts and no walks. Boone indicated Fried, sidelined since May 14 with a left elbow bone bruise, will throw another rehab outing in five days before potential promotion decisions are made.

Shortstop prospect George Lombard Jr. returned to action for the RailRiders on Friday, going 2 for 3 with a home run and walk after missing time with sprained fingers on his left hand. The 21-year-old son of a former major leaguer is hitting .239 with five homers, 16 RBIs and eight stolen bases in 43 games at Triple-A.