The New York Yankees are riding a wave of positive updates as they gear up for a strong second half of the season. Alongside the impending returns of Marcus Stroman and Giancarlo Stanton from the injured list, the team received encouraging news about closer Luke Weaver, whose swift recovery could provide a significant lift to their bullpen.
Weaver, sidelined since June 3 with a left hamstring strain, threw his second bullpen session ahead of the Yankees’ matchup against the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday. According to Newsday’s Erik Boland, the right-hander felt “great” following the session, signaling a potential early return from an initial four-to-six-week recovery timeline. After experiencing discomfort while warming up during New York’s series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 1, Weaver received a platelet-rich plasma injection last week and resumed a throwing program. His progress suggests he could be back on the mound sooner than anticipated, a major win for a Yankees bullpen that has struggled in his absence.
Luke Weaver, on the IL with a left hamstring strain, said he felt “great” after throwing a bullpen session today in KC. It was his second bullpen of his rehab. Said he felt nothing in the hamstring
— Erik Boland (@eboland11) June 11, 2025
The 31-year-old has been a revelation for the Yankees, who have a knack for transforming overlooked pitchers into key contributors. A former first-round pick in 2014, Weaver was once traded for Paul Goldschmidt and bounced around with the Cincinnati Reds and Seattle Mariners in 2023 before New York claimed him off waivers in September. Transitioning from a starter to a reliever, he posted a 3.38 ERA across three outings and 13 1/3 innings to close out the 2023 season. His performance earned him a one-year, $2 million contract with a $2.5 million club option for 2025, which the Yankees exercised after he delivered a stellar 2.89 ERA in 62 regular-season appearances and a 1.76 ERA over 15 1/3 postseason innings last year.
This season, Weaver has been even more dominant, boasting a 1.05 ERA over 24 appearances and 25 2/3 innings, the lowest among all qualified American League relievers. His absence has left a noticeable void in New York’s bullpen, making his potential early return a critical boost for a team with postseason aspirations. As the Yankees await the return of Stroman and Stanton from their rehab assignments with Double-A Somerset, Weaver’s progress adds another layer of optimism for a squad looking to solidify its roster down the stretch.