Yankees to place Max Fried on 15-day IL with bone bruise
NEW YORK — The Yankees will place starter Max Fried on the injured checklist due to a left elbow bone bruise, the workforce introduced Friday.
The left-hander underwent an MRI and CT scan Thursday earlier than being examined by Yankees workforce doctor Dr. Chris Ahmad. The membership stated Fried will bear one other spherical of exams “in a few weeks [or when asymptomatic]”to decide when he can resume throwing.
The Yankees introduced that Dr. Neal Elattrache, a number one Tommy John surgeon, can even evaluation Thursday’s imaging, however Fried insisted that it’s only for “due diligence.” He stated the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow is unbroken, and he won’t want surgical procedure however declined to expose specifics on a timeline for return.
Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone stated the workforce has not determined who will change Fried in a rotation that has been probably the greatest within the majors almost two months into the season.
“I definitely bummed that I’m going to have to be missing some time,” stated Fried, who exited his begin Wednesday in opposition to the Baltimore Orioles after simply three innings. “But overall happy that it doesn’t look like it’s going to be anything serious or surgery required or anything like that. Never want to go on the IL and miss games but also understand that the long-term outlook still looks good.”
Fried, 32, underwent Tommy John surgical procedure in 2014, two years after he was chosen within the first spherical by the San Diego Padres. He has missed time for numerous accidents since making his main league debut with the Atlanta Braves in 2018, together with almost three months in 2023 due to a strained left forearm and two weeks in 2024 due to one other forearm damage.
The setbacks did not discourage the Yankees from giving Fried an eight-year, $218 million contract — the most important assure ever for a left-handed pitcher — after the 2024 season. The Yankees envisioned partnering Fried with Gerrit Cole to create probably the greatest one-two punches within the majors.
Instead, Cole underwent Tommy John surgical procedure in March 2025 that knocked him out for the season, and Fried established himself because the employees ace, recording a 2.86 ERA in 195⅓ innings throughout 32 begins in an All-Star marketing campaign and not using a stint on the injured checklist.
Fried was elite once more to begin this season, carrying a 2.09 ERA by his first seven begins. But he labored over the previous three outings. Fried gave up 11 runs whereas hanging out 13 and strolling seven — an uncharacteristically excessive quantity — in 14⅓ innings. He was pulled Wednesday in Baltimore after yielding three runs on 5 hits in a Yankees 7-0 loss.
Fried described the bone bruise because of hyperextending his elbow, “banging the two bones back there, and it just irritated a little bit.” He defined that modifying its mechanics might assist keep away from the issue sooner or later.
The treatment for now’s relaxation and therapy. Fried stated he doesn’t know when he’ll resume throwing.
“I think we’re looking at a little bit of an ambiguous timeline, just understanding that everyone’s bodies are going to heal differently,” Fried stated. “So, I’m going to get back as soon as I possibly can.”
The Yankees have a couple of choices to change Fried. Cole will ultimately be the reply, however Boone stated the workforce won’t speed up the 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner’s rehab task. The right-hander will make his sixth rehab begin Saturday and is scheduled for another earlier than returning.
The Yankees might have both Paul Blackburn or Ryan Yarbroughtwo former starters within the Yankees’ bullpen, took Fried’s rotation spot and known as up a reliever. Neither, nevertheless, has been stretched out for a typical starter’s workload. Blackburn threw a season-high 43 pitches April 26 and 36 pitches after Fried’s exit Wednesday. Yarborough tossed a season-high 55 pitches Wednesday. His earlier highs had been 38 and 37.
New York might additionally promote a starter from the minors. The most notable selection is prospect Elmer Rodríguez from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for his second stint with the membership.
Rodríguez made two begins, together with his main league debut April 29, when Luis Gil was demoted to the minors. Rodríguez allowed 5 runs in 8⅔ innings earlier than he was despatched again to Triple A earlier than Carlos Rodon was activated to make his season debut. The right-hander has not pitched since logging 4⅔ innings for Scranton-Wilkes Barre final Sunday. Right-hander Brendan Beckwho made his main league debut May 7, is an alternative choice.
For now, the rotation logjam the Yankees anticipated with Cole’s return will not occur, and the membership will transfer ahead with out final season’s ace.
“I think [it’s] in some ways good news in that the ligament’s in good shape,” Boone stated. “It’s just a matter of how the timeline’s going to shake out. But I think in the long term, we’re in an OK spot.”
