Max Fried remains one of the missing pieces the New York Yankees need back most as they push through the regular season. Following his placement on the 15-day injured list, the left-hander took a major step forward by making his first mound appearance, delivering encouraging news for a depleted Yankees rotation.
According to YES Network‘s Meredith Marakovits, “Max Fried threw a 26-pitch bullpen session today. First time on the mound since landing on IL (bone bruise left elbow). According to pitching coach Matt Blake, all went well.“
Fried also addressed the media following the session, expressing confidence that his stint on the shelf won’t extend past the minimum requirement. “I’m optimistic I’ll only need the minimum on the IL,” Fried said, per Marakovits.
While manager Aaron Boone expressed concern over a separate injury to slugger Giancarlo Stanton, the front office bolstered bullpen depth by signing free agent reliever Eli Morgan to a minor-league deal as extra insurance for the stretch run. Meanwhile, the club now has a clearer timeline for captain Aaron Judge’s return to the active roster.
Max Fried #54 of the New York Yankees.
Fried’s elbow injury
Fried was placed on the 15-day injured list due to a recurrence of a bone bruise in his left elbow. The move was backdated to August 14 after he experienced lingering discomfort following his August 13 start against the Seattle Mariners.
This marks the second time this season Fried has dealt with the issue, having previously missed two months from mid-May to July. However, both Fried and the team note that the discomfort is far less severe this time around, and his quick progression to bullpen sessions clears the path for live batting practice in the coming days.
With the fan base relieved that Fried appears to have dodged a major bullet, the Southpaw will continue his rehabilitation protocol with his sights set on rejoining the Yankees for the playoff push.
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