Judge off IL, batting 2nd for Yankees

Keep track of the Yankees’ recent transactions and injury updates throughout the season.

July 27: OF Aaron Judge returns from injured list Judge, who was placed on the IL back on July 16, is in the Yankees’ lineup vs. the Rays, batting second. The slugging outfielder has hit 21 home runs in 84 games this season.

July 26: RHP Clay Holmes acquired from Pirates for INF Diego Castillo and INF Hoy Park The Yankees added a bullpen arm by dealing two Minor Leaguers for Holmes four days ahead of the July 30 Trade Deadline. The right-hander posted a 3-2 record and 4.93 ERA in 44 relief appearances for Pittsburgh this season. Holmes has pitched in parts of four Major League seasons for the Pirates with a 5-7 record and 5.57 ERA in 91 games, including four starts.

July 26: C Rob Brantly returned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Up with the Yankees since July 16, Brantly was sent out to make room on the 40-man roster for Holmes.

July 25: 3B/SS Gio Urshela reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list Urshela missed eight games while sidelined since July 16. Of his 38 home runs with the Yankees, 18 have either tied the game (eight) or have given the Yankees the lead (10), including 10 of his last 14 dingers.

July 25: INF Chris Gittens placed on the 10-day injured list Gittens rolled his right ankle in a July 24 victory over the Red Sox, stepping on his bat as he came out of the box on an eighth-inning dribbler.

July 24: RHP Asher Wojciechowski elected free agency in lieu of accepting an outright assignment Wojciechowski made a spot start on July 21, holding the Phillies to two runs over four innings.

INF Chris Gittens (right ankle sprain) The Yankees expect Gittens’ IL stint to be on the shorter side. He’d earlier been dealing with left Achilles soreness. (Last updated: July 24)

IF/OF Miguel Andújar (left wrist strain) Expected return: August Andújar sustained the strain during his last at-bat on July 5. He was sidelined earlier in the season with a similar issue in his right hand. Andújar had a cortisone injection on July 16, then a second one on July 22 after experiencing residual soreness. Andújar may resume baseball activities on July 24. (Last updated: July 23)

1B Luke Voit (left knee inflammation) Expected return: August Voit was diagnosed with a bone bruise in his surgically repaired knee after reporting swelling during the All-Star break. He had the knee drained, but he experienced lingering discomfort. Manager Aaron Boone said on July 25 that Voit resumed running and is “doing really well, feeling as good as he’s felt in a long time.” (Last updated: July 25)

RHP Michael King (right middle finger contusion) Expected return: August King will need to rebuild his stamina after he sustained the injury while performing weight training, jamming his finger between a set of weights. X-rays were negative, but King was unable to play catch due to swelling. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on July 23 that King is “still going to be a ways away.” (Last updated: July 23)

OF Clint Frazier (possible vision issues) Expected return: August or September Frazier exited the Yankees’ June 30 game with dizziness. He has been able to run and lift weights during his layoff, though he has not performed baseball activities and would need a Minor League rehab assignment before he returns. Vertigo has been ruled out. Frazier is seeking second opinions as he seeks a course of vision therapy. Asked if Frazier could be done for the year, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said, “We’re still in the collection phase.” (Last updated: July 23)

OF Trey Amburgey (right hamstring strain) Expected return: August or September Amburgey sustained what the team initially announced to be a right hamstring cramp while legging out a fourth-inning double-play ball against the Red Sox on July 18. The Yankees placed him on the 10-day IL on July 20, later revealing that Amburgey’s strain was a Grade 2. (Last updated: July 23)

OF Tim Locastro (torn ACL) Expected return: 2022 Locastro injured his right knee making a catch on July 17 vs. the Red Sox. He underwent season-ending surgery on July 21, a procedure performed by Dr. David Altchek at the Hospital for Special Surgery. Locastro was transferred to the 60-day injured list on July 25. (Last updated: July 25)

RHP Corey Kluber (right subscapular strain) Expected return: September Kluber threw 25 fastballs from a mound on July 23, his first time doing so since his May 25 start against the Blue Jays. Kluber said that the session went as he would have hoped, and he will be in line for another bullpen shortly. (Last updated: July 24)

RHP Luis Severino (recovery from Tommy John surgery, Grade 2 groin strain) Expected return: August or September Severino threw 30 pitches in batting practice on July 18 at Yankee Stadium, then tossed two simulated innings and 38 pitches on July 24 at Fenway Park. That could be the precursor to a Minor League rehab assignment, though the Yankees also might have Severino throw three simulated innings under controlled conditions. The Yankees plan to build Severino up to throw about five or six innings, a goal they were targeting before he sustained a groin strain on June 12 while pitching for High-A Hudson Valley. (Last updated: July 25)

RHP Clarke Schmidt (right elbow strain) Expected return: August or September Schmidt tossed two simulated innings on July 21 at the Yankees’ complex in Tampa, Fla., a session which is said to have gone well. The Yankees are determining if Schmidt’s next outing will come at the complex or in a Minor League rehab appearance. Schmidt’s first outing is expected to be three innings and 45 pitches. (Last updated: July 23)

OF Aaron Hicks (torn tendon sheath in left wrist) Expected return: 2022 Following a brief course of anti-inflammatories, Hicks opted for surgery to repair his left wrist, a procedure which is expected to be season-ending and will include four to six months of recovery time. The surgery was performed on May 26 by Dr. Donald Sheridan in Scottsdale, Ariz. Hicks has been rehabbing and is on track to be ready for Spring Training 2022. (Last updated: July 23)

RHP Darren O’Day (left hamstring strain) Expected return: 2022 O’Day underwent season-ending surgery on July 21, a procedure performed by Dr. Brian Kelly at the Hospital for Special Surgery. The injury is to the same hamstring that O’Day had repaired in June 2018 in another season-ending operation. O’Day has expressed uncertainty about his baseball future. (Last updated: July 22)

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