Luke Weaver took a big step toward returning to the Yankees on Tuesday by throwing live batting practice. This session took place before the Yankees faced the Angels in The Bronx, where they unfortunately lost 4-0. Weaver, who has been recovering from a hamstring strain, threw about 20 pitches to teammates J.C. Escarra and Oswald Peraza.
Weaver’s injury occurred on June 1, and this was his first significant activity since then. He expressed optimism after his outing, saying, “It felt great. Obviously knocking a little bit of the cobwebs off.” He noted that his heart rate was up and his pitches were moving well.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone praised Weaver’s performance, calling the session “excellent.” Boone hopes to make a decision about Weaver’s status in the coming days, depending on how he feels after this workout. Weaver has been cautious during his recovery, taking his time to avoid any setbacks. He mentioned that he feels no lingering effects from the injury and is ahead of the expected recovery timeline of four to six weeks.
Before his injury, Weaver had been performing impressively, boasting a 1.05 ERA over 24 games and 25 2/3 innings. He allowed just three runs and seven walks while striking out 24 batters. This strong showing has made his return even more anticipated by the team and fans alike.
Weaver’s focus during these sessions is to ensure his body and mind are in sync. He aims to throw with full intensity without overcompensating for his injury. As he continues to work toward a return, the Yankees will be hopeful that Weaver can contribute to improving their struggling bullpen.