According to NJ Media, Aaron Judge, Anthony Rizzo, Carlos Rodon, and Nestor Cortes have had excellent updates and can bring some exciting news for the Yankees Nation.
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge took a significant step forward in his injury rehab on Friday afternoon at Busch Stadium. Testing out his injured right big toe, Judge engaged in a series of throws down the left-field line, surpassing the 90-foot mark. This marked the third consecutive day of pregame throwing for Judge, who had been sidelined for nearly four weeks without any baseball activities.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone expressed encouragement about Judge’s slow progression, but hitting is not yet in the plans. While other baseball activities may be introduced over the weekend, nothing has been confirmed.
“Today was good to see him out really long tossing and getting into throws a little bit,” Boone said. “I know he’s doing better.”
Anthony Rizzo returns to Yankees’ lineup
Another player on the injury list is first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who experienced stiffness after being hit by a pitch on the left elbow during Thursday’s victory against the Athletics. Consequently, Rizzo was not included in the starting lineup for Friday night’s game against the Cardinals in St. Louis.
However, Boone expects Rizzo to return on Saturday, with the possibility of him being available off the bench for Friday’s game. Boone reassured that the stiffness shouldn’t be a major concern and Rizzo would receive treatment throughout the day.
Carlos Rodon umpresses in rehab start, Yankees anticipate strong debut
Left-hander Carlos Rodon is set to make his third and final rehab start on Saturday in High-A Hudson Valley. The decision to send Rodon to a lower-level affiliate was based on logistical reasons, as both Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Double-A Somerset are away this weekend. Boone emphasized that the Yankees prioritize Rodon’s pitch count and workload rather than the quality of the hitters he faces.
The plan remains for Carlos Rodon to make his Yankees debut on July 7 against the Cubs at Yankee Stadium. This allows him a full week of rest, taking over the final spot in the rotation previously occupied by Jhony Brito and Randy Vásquez.
Nestor Cortes advances in recovery
Rehabbing left-hander Nestor Cortes achieved a significant milestone in his recovery from a shoulder strain. He threw off a mound on Friday in St. Louis, marking his first bullpen session in over three weeks. The session consisted of approximately 20 pitches, primarily utilizing his fastball and cutter. Cortes considered this bullpen session a significant step forward as he initially struggled with mound work when the injury first arose in late May. He experienced soreness after each outing, preventing him from recovering between starts. This led to a temporary halt in his throwing routine and the administration of a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection. Cortes expressed optimism, viewing the successful bullpen session as confirmation of being on the right track.
Regarding Cortes’ return to the rotation, there is no definitive timeline yet. However, Boone shared that his first live session against hitters is scheduled either at the end of the upcoming weekend or on the first day of the All-Star break. The Yankees are carefully monitoring Cortes’ progress as he gradually works his way back to full strength.
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