Aaron Judge is finally taking overhand indoor batting practice, shedding the tee and toss swings from just last week. This is what we’ve been waiting for! It’s massive news for the Yankees as September looms, a club that absolutely needs every ounce of power heading into the home stretch. We’re talking about a fractured first right rib here, so every step back to a powerful, game-ready swing is a monumental hurdle. While there’s still no official public timeline for his return to the lineup, he’s expected back sometime in September. Seeing him move past basic tee and toss work to actual overhand swings is the most concrete sign yet that he is indeed on track to rejoin the squad. This isn’t just a small step, it’s a giant leap in his recovery, signaling that the light at the end of the injury tunnel is getting brighter.
The Pitching Staff Is Stacking Up Fast
But wait, there’s more good news beyond the Judge updates. The pitching staff isn’t just treading water, they’re getting legitimate reinforcements. Lefty Max Fried, sidelined with an elbow bone bruise, took a huge step forward on Monday. He tossed four simulated innings, firing off 60 pitches against live hitters. That’s a real workload, putting him in line for activation this Saturday when the Yanks host the Red Sox in a crucial day-night doubleheader. Talk about timely.
And that’s not all the mound news. Clarke Schmidt, grinding through Tommy John surgery rehab and a recent forearm cramp, made significant strides earlier Tuesday. He threw a 20-pitch live batting practice session at Yankee Stadium. Pitching coach Matt Blake was practically beaming, noting Schmidt looked sharp, showing off good curveballs and a live fastball. Blake even cracked a smile, admitting the “competition was a little weak” since it was just Yankees coaches, including Brad Ausmus, in the box. Still, the stuff looked sharp, and Schmidt is on track for a minor league rehab assignment by this weekend. On top of that, manager Aaron Boone suggested rookie Elmer Rodriguez is highly likely to be recalled from Triple-A to start Wednesday night’s game against the mighty Astros. That’s three significant arms either back or making huge strides toward it, giving the rotation a much-needed boost.
Tonight’s Showdown Against Houston
With all this encouraging news dropping, the Yankees are ready to kick off their crucial three-game series against the Houston Astros tonight. It’s Will Warren slated to take the mound for the Yankees, going head-to-head with fellow right-hander Ethan Pecko for Houston. You can bet the energy is palpable around the clubhouse with these injury updates, especially with Judge making real progress and major pitching reinforcements on the horizon. We’ll be watching to see how Warren handles the Astros lineup as the team starts to get some of its biggest pieces back for the final push.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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