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Joba Chamberlain, who will throw live batting practice on Monday, isn’t the only injured Yankees pitcher eyeing a return sooner rather than later.

David Aardsma, who like Chamberlain is recovering from 2011 Tommy John surgery, made his first rehab appearance with the Rookie-level GCL Yankees on Tuesday, throwing a scoreless inning and striking out two.

The righty will pitch for the GCL Yankees once again on Saturday, and according to GM Brian Cashman, he could be ready to make his debut in the Bronx as early as mid-July.

"He will be ready in time to help us,” Cashman said of Aardsma, who recorded 69 saves for the Mariners in 2009 and 2010 but has not pitched since then. “He's in his 30-day rehab cycle … If everything goes right, in 31, 32 days, he'll join us."

July 19 would be 30 days from Tuesday’s first appearance, meaning Aardsma could be ready in time for the Yankees’ next road trip out west – one which sees them play three games in Seattle July 23-25.

Meanwhile, Pedro Feliciano, who is in the second year of a two-year deal but has yet to throw a regular-season pitch for the Yankees, believes he could be back to help the team sometime in 2012.

Feliciano was signed prior to the 2011 season, but missed all of last year attempting to rehab a strained rotator cuff suffered in Spring Training, and finally had surgery last September that has kept him out of action this season as well. However, the lefty threw off a half-mound Friday and will throw off a full mound on Tuesday – and according to Newsday’s Erik Boland, he has told people in Tampa that he expects to pitch this season.

In addition to that trio of pitching updates, Yankees fans also got some encouraging news Friday about catcher Austin Romine, who has been out all season due to a back injury. Romine has been playing catch and hitting off a tee at the team’s Minor League complex in Tampa, and according to Cashman, he will “definitely” play this season, “assuming there are no setbacks.”

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