NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Aaron Judge will need another scan before a major ramp-up of activity while his fractured rib heals, and the New York Yankees moved their captain to the 60-day injured list Saturday.
Sidelined since May 31, Judge had a scan during the All-Star break that was reviewed by Dr. Gregory J. Pearl, chair of the department of vascular surgery at Baylor Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital in Texas.
鈥淥bviously healing going on, which is good, but still not able to start any baseball activities or anything,鈥� Yankees manager Aaron Boone said after and rescheduled as part of a day-night doubleheader Sunday.
鈥淗e needs to get to a point to where he鈥檚 asymptomatic to where you really start ramping up more upper body stuff,鈥� Boone said.
Judge is hitting .248 with 17 homers and 38 RBIs but had just one homer in his last 18 games before going on the injured list.
鈥淭he good news is, you know the the pain is subsiding somewhat over the last couple weeks and changing from that sharp to more of that pull,” Boone said. “So hopefully he continues to improve there and then we can start upping things.鈥�
Boone said how Judge feels will determine when he goes for another scan.
New York was 36-23 when the 34-year-old outfielder last played but is 18-20 since.
His move to the 60-day IL was procedural to open a 40-man roster spot for right-hander Bradley Hanner, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Hanner then was optioned back to the RailRiders.
Clarke Schmidt could return in bullpen
Clarke Schmidt threw an inning of batting practice for the first time since and said he reached 95 mph.
A 30-year-old right-hander, Schmidt threw four-seamers, sinkers and cutters among 15 pitches to Anthony Volpe and Ali S谩nchez. He did not throw sliders, sweepers or knuckle-curves.
鈥淣ot full game feeling with the butterflies and stuff like that, but close to it,鈥� Schmidt said. 鈥淭o be able to put your stuff on display and be able get back out there after a year is a good feeling.鈥�
Schmidt had an internal brace in this operation. He had Tommy John surgery in May 2017, a month before the Yankees selected him with the 16th overall pick in the amateur draft.
鈥淭he 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鈥檙e like, ah, it doesn鈥檛 feel great,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t just feels a little more easier where it鈥檚 like I don鈥檛 have to reach back and have those days where you鈥檙e grinding a little bit.鈥�
Schmidt is to throw batting practice again in four or five days. He may return this year as a reliever and is willing to be an opener or a bridge pitcher.
鈥淚 know that we have a little more limited time for me this year as far as ability to build up the pitch count,鈥� he said. 鈥淥bviously I鈥檓 open to everything as long as I鈥檓 out there competing and being able to help the guys. … I know I鈥檒l be able to be back at some point in some facet this year.”
Possible Giancarlo Stanton return near
Boone is hopeful designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton is nearing a return from a .
鈥淗e is a week into the running progression, been hitting,鈥� Boone said. 鈥淥bviously had a setback, whenever, three, four weeks ago now, but he seems to be moving in a good direction so hopefully getting close.鈥�
Stanton still hasn’t run the bases.
Max Fried to get another minor league rehab start
Left-hander Max Fried, out since May 14 because of a left elbow bone bruise, made his first rehab start Friday for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre against Worcester, allowing two runs and five hits over three innings with three strikeouts and no walks.
鈥淗e looked really good. I watched his whole outing,鈥� Boone said. 鈥淗e felt really good. So 52 pitches, so another one in five days. We’ll up that and we鈥檒l see what we鈥檙e at from there.鈥�
George Lombard potentially an option
Shortstop prospect George Lombard Jr. went 2 for 3 with a home run and a walk for the RailRiders on Friday night in his return from the injured list. He hadn鈥檛 played for Scranton since June 16 because of sprained fingers on his left hand.
鈥淥bviously it’s no secret how highly we think of George,鈥� Boone said. 鈥淗ad a good game last night, obviously, so he鈥檚 certainly more and more in his development pushing himself into the conversation.鈥�
A 21-year-old son of a former major leaguer, Lombard is hitting .239 with five homers, 16 RBIs and eight stolen bases in 43 games at Triple-A.
鈥淚 want him to get going here coming off the injury and start stacking some days,鈥� Boone said.
___
AP MLB:
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
