Overview
- Aaron Judge took swings against overhand pitching in the indoor cages on Tuesday as he continues a stepwise return from a right first‑rib stress fracture and has been running, throwing about 100 feet, and shagging fly balls.
- Max Fried threw four innings, roughly 60 pitches, in live batting practice on Monday and is being evaluated to determine whether he can be activated for one game of Saturday’s doubleheader after an MRI showed low‑level elbow inflammation.
- Clarke Schmidt has been throwing bullpen and live sessions with his fastball in the mid‑90s and is expected to begin a minor‑league rehab assignment this week as the Yankees prepare him for a bullpen role this season.
- The club is using imaging, measurable throwing and hitting milestones, and players’ symptom responses rather than fixed timetables to decide next steps and to limit the risk of setbacks late in the season.
- If all progress holds, Judge would likely follow overhand BP with machine work, live batting practice and a short minor‑league rehab before returning to right field, while Fried and Schmidt would offer short‑term pitching depth based on how they respond to continued activity.