New York Yankees closer Luke Weaver could be activated off the injured list as soon as Friday, manager Aaron Boone disclosed prior to Thursday’s series finale against the Los Angeles Angels.
Weaver has been out since June 1, when he suffered a hamstring strain. He took his first big step toward a return on Tuesday when he threw 20 pitches off the mound at Yankee Stadium in what was his first live batting practice session.
“It felt great,” Weaver said (h/t NY Post). “Obviously, knocking a little bit of the cobwebs off. Trying to get the mind, trying to get the intensity of a teeny bit of adrenaline. Hard to say the adrenaline is flowing the same way a game would, but heart rate is definitely up, and the velo is good. All pitches are moving well.”
He had previously thrown a pair of bullpen sessions prior, as the Yankees continue to take the slow-and-steady approach with the 31-year-old. However, Boone’s confidence that Weaver could return in the next 24 hours suggests he is well ahead of the initial four-to-six-week timeframe that was prescribed to him.
Weaver was thrust back into the closer’s role last month amidst the struggles of star winter acquisition Devin Williams, and was seemingly running away with the job before his hamstring acted up. He owns a 1.05 ERA with 24 strikeouts and eight saves in 25.2 innings of work this season.
Williams has stepped up in Weaver’s absence, though, which at least suggests the Yankees’ bullpen’s back end is secure. Granted, pressure on them has been non-existent as of late, with New York entering Thursday’s matchup on a six-game losing streak that featured three straight games in which it was shut out.
Since May 31, Williams has allowed just one run on four hits in 6.1 innings pitched (1.42 ERA) with four saves.
