Yankees Provide Encouraging Update on Injured Ace
When a star pitcher goes down with an elbow injury, most fans always think of the worst possible outcome. Thankfully for the New York Yankees, it appears that ace Max Fried has avoided a serious injury and, according to manager Aaron Boone, is progressing well in his recovery.
On Friday, ahead of a crucial series against the Toronto Blue Jays, Boone provided an update on Fried's progress. The Yankees manager revealed that the latest round of imaging on Fried's elbow showed enough healing that he has been cleared to throw off the mound on Saturday. This will be the first time that Fried has thrown off a mound since he's been on the IL. He will throw a touch and feel bullpen session.
Aaron Boone said Max Fried is throwing off a mound tomorrow, the first time since he was placed on the injured list. Recent imaging showed increased healing.
— Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) June 12, 2026
Fried exited his start on May 13th against the Baltimore Orioles with elbow soreness in his throwing arm. He was placed on the 15-day IL with what the Yankees called a left-elbow bone bruise and was shut down from throwing for several weeks. Despite the encouraging progress for Fried, he is still a long way from returning to MLB action.
The southpaw was off to another stellar start this year, carrying the load for the rotation with both Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon out with injuries. In 10 appearances this year, Fried has a 4-3 record, with a 3.21 ERA and 1.005 WHIP. Fried has been everything the Yankees could ask for after he signed an eight-year, $218 million deal with the Pinstripes in the 2024-2025 offseason. He was an AL All-Star and won a Gold Glove in his first year with the Yankees, while finishing fourth in the AL Cy Young voting. He also led MLB with 19 wins and was All-MLB First Team.
Aaron Boone speaks on the Trey Yesavage matchup, as well as updates on Austin Wells, Jasson Domínguez, and Max Fried's rehab progressions. pic.twitter.com/hg6Ex7uFpG
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) June 12, 2026
So far, the Yankees have managed to stay competitive and lead the American League in wins with 41 heading into Friday's action. New York is tied with the Tampa Bay Rays for the AL East division lead and currently holds a sizable 7.5 game lead over the final AL Wild Card spot. If the Yankees can continue to tread water until Fried returns, they should have one of the best starting rotations heading into the back half of the season.
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This story was originally published June 12, 2026 at 7:06 PM.