Aaron Judge Eyes August Return as Yankees Tackle Injuries

After nearly a month of speculation, the New York Yankees have finally provided a clearer picture regarding Aaron Judge’s return. The star outfielder is targeting an August comeback, pending follow-up imaging in a couple of weeks. Judge last stepped onto the field on May 31st before being diagnosed with a fractured first right rib on June 4th. Initially, the team set a four-to-six week timetable for re-imaging, but there was no indication of when he might return to play. During his recovery, the captain has focused on lower body weight training but has not engaged in any baseball activities. With the Yankees’ offense struggling in his absence, fans are hopeful that the upcoming imaging will show significant healing and allow for a ramp-up in rehabilitation.

In other injury news, Max Fried took a significant step in his recovery from a bone bruise in his pitching elbow by facing live hitters for the first time. The Atlanta Braves lefty threw 30 pitches during a 20-minute, two-inning simulated game at Yankee Stadium. He faced fellow injured players Trent Grisham and Ryan McMahon, notching two strikeouts while showcasing his complete pitch arsenal. Prior to his injury on May 13th against the Orioles, Fried was among the American League’s top starters, boasting a 3.21 ERA in his first ten outings. His return would be a crucial boost for a rotation that has struggled to find its footing since.

In addition to Fried’s progress, the Yankees are set to welcome back Grisham and McMahon, both expected to be activated from the injured list on Friday. Grisham has been sidelined since June 12th with a strained right hamstring, while McMahon has been out since June 21st due to a throat infection. Grisham’s return would be a significant lift for a faltering offense, and McMahon’s activation would help stabilize a defense that has faced challenges at third base in his absence. Moreover, Jazz Chisholm Jr. has cleared concussion protocol and was available off the bench in their recent loss to the Tigers after leaving Monday’s game due to a collision with Jasson Domínguez’s elbow.

On the bullpen front, the Yankees called up Yovanny Cruz to bolster their relief options, making the move after optioning Yerry De los Santos to Triple-A. Cruz made a brief appearance in May, striking out three in 2.1 scoreless innings, showcasing a fastball that can hit triple digits alongside a formidable slider. The Yankees opted to keep him in Triple-A to refine his command, and his walk rate improved significantly from 12.2% to 7.1% during his time with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Cruz made his presence felt in a recent matchup against the Tigers, throwing two scoreless innings and striking out three, hinting at his potential to contribute further as the season progresses.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.