Max Fried nears return as Yankees plan live batting practice Sunday, July 5

New York Yankees left-hander Max Fried is scheduled to pitch in a live batting practice session on Sunday, July 5, a notable step in his return from a throwing-elbow bone bruise. Manager Aaron Boone said Fried will be monitored closely, with a pitch-count approach built into the next stage of his progression.

The elbow injury landed Fried on the injured list on May 16. By Saturday’s updates, Fried was moving forward through the kind of ramp-up process the Yankees typically use after a long layoff, starting with higher-intensity throwing and then adding live action against hitters. Boone characterized the immediate goal as building up volume from the pitch-count standpoint, emphasizing that the workload will be carefully managed rather than treated like a regular spring training or bullpen schedule.

According to, Fried is expected to throw live batting practice at Yankee Stadium and should reach 35 pitches in the session. The same report noted that even if the live work goes as planned, Fried is not expected to be ready to pitch in a Major League game for at least another month, because the process still includes multiple live sessions and a rehab assignment.

Boone also indicated that the Yankees see the timeline in terms of preparation, not shortcuts. He added that Fried will likely need additional live pitching work during the coming week before the team considers moving him to a rehab start. That cautious sequencing matters for a pitcher returning from elbow pain because a live session is one test of command and ball flight, but game-speed demands are another.

At the same time, Fried’s own reporting has been upbeat. reported that while working through the injury and mechanical adjustments during the layoff, he was aiming to dial in his delivery and get more balanced and on time. Fried told reporters at his locker that he felt completely normal and healthy, suggesting the discomfort that kept him out has eased to the point where the Yankees feel comfortable exposing him to hitters again.

Fried’s impact potential is the reason the Yankees are paying close attention to every step. ’s season recap included that Fried is 4-3 with a 3.21 ERA in 10 starts in 2026. If he ultimately returns to form, his left-handed presence would add depth to a rotation that has carried significant expectations this season, and it could help the Yankees map out their later-summer pitching rotation more confidently.

What to watch next is how Fried’s elbow responds to the live session itself, including whether he stays on his target pitch count and whether the Yankees move him quickly to the next planned live work. After Sunday’s session, the next checkpoint is the overall build toward a rehab assignment, which will determine whether the Yankees can begin tightening their rotation options in August rather than waiting longer.