Luke Weaver, the closer for the New York Yankees, was placed on the injured list two weeks ago on Tuesday due to a strained left hamstring, which also came with a four-to-six-week recovery period.
Weaver has always intended to defeat it, and now seems to be on his way. He hasn’t experienced any soreness in about two weeks and has been gradually increasing his throwing program without problems.
Closer Luke Weaver on His Way Back From a Hamstring Injury
Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports that Weaver participated in Tuesday’s 20-pitch live batting practice.
Luke Weaver threw live BP for the 1st time since his hamstring injury earlier. He felt “great” & hasn’t felt anything in his hammy since a day or 2 after it happened.
He threw upwards of 20 pitches over 2 ups.
Asked for a best-case return date, he joked, “Today.” #Yankees
— Gary Phillips (@GaryHPhillips) June 17, 2025
Weaver is facing hitters for the first time since going on the 15-day injured list two weeks ago. When the IL move was announced, the Yankees gave Weaver a 4- to 6-week schedule.
However, the reliever reported on Tuesday that he hasn’t experienced any hamstring pain since a day or two after the injury so that he may surpass that time frame. The club will make the final choice.
Weaver said he hasn’t experienced any hamstring problems since a day or two following that stretch in Los Angeles. When pressed for a best-case timeline, he joked that he would like to return “today” but was unsure of his next course of action.
Weaver’s return would greatly benefit the Yankees’ bullpen. Over 24 games and 25.2 innings, he recorded a 1.05 ERA and eight saves.
After Devin Williams had an 11.25 ERA, two losses, and one blown save in his first ten games with the Yankees, Weaver took over as the closer at the end of April.
But since the first demotion, Williams, who rejoined the team when Weaver was injured, has been far more productive, amassing a 2.95 ERA and five saves in 20 games. Since Weaver went on the injured list, he hasn’t botched a save and has only given up one run.
Williams has nine total saves and a 5.47 ERA.
Weaver and Williams will be free agents at the end of the season. But since joining the Yankees in 2023, Weaver, a former starter, has proven adaptable in his role. In mid-May, Williams stated he didn’t care about returning to the closer’s position.
The two pitchers could always split the workload, but Boone admitted he hasn’t given it much thought as Weaver approaches returning.