NEW YORK — What was expected to be a triumphant return turned into a nightmare for the Yankees on Friday night, as reliever Luke Weaving was shelled in his first appearance since coming off the injured list. Touted just a day earlier as a co-closer alongside Devin Williams, Weaver was unable to record an out while surrendering four, and the Yankees fell in stunning fashion.
Weaver, who had been sidelined for 17 days with a hamstring injury, came into the game with the Yankees leading and promptly lost control—both literally and figuratively. His command was inconsistent, his fastball lacked the crisp velocity seen in his live batting practice sessions, and he was tagged with one of the worst relief outings of his season.
Just 24 hours before, Yankees manager Aaron Boone had announced Weaver would be sharing high-leverage duties with Williams, praising the duo as “two elite guys” in the bullpen. Friday’s performance, however, quickly raised questions about whether Weaver had been rushed back too soon.
After the game, Boone acknowledged the disappointing outing but wasn’t ready to abandon the plan.
“It wasn’t the return any of us hoped for, obviously,” Boone said. “But it’s one outing. We know what Luke’s capable of, and we’re confident he’ll bounce back.”
Boone also emphasized that no decision had yet been made to adjust Weaver’s role, despite the rough result.
Before hitting the IL, Weaver had been dominant, is1.05 E with 8 saves in 9 chances. His late-game reliability had allowed the Yankees to reshuffle their bullpen hierarchy, moving Williams into a setup role after his early-season struggles. Williams had since rebounded impressively, putting up a 1.88 ERA in his last 15 appearances.
Friday’s meltdown now puts the bullpen picture in flux. While Williams remains in top form, the Yankees may need to give Weaver time to fully recalibrate before relying on him in ninth-inning spots.
The outing was a setback—not just for Weaver but for a Yankees team in the thick of a competitive AL East race. While Boone continues to show support for the veteran right-hander, future usage will likely depend on how Weaver responds in his next few outings.
For now, the Yankees are hoping this was a one-off disaster—and not a warning sign.