The New York Yankees will now have to face a new reality without Luke Weaver, as a recent report confirmed that the reliever will miss at least a month due to a hamstring injury.
“New York Yankees closer Luke Weaver is expected to be placed on the injured list after injuring his hamstring while warming up Sunday night, sources tell ESPN. Weaver underwent an MRI and could miss four to six weeks, though the official timetable will be determined Tuesday,” Jeff Passan reported on X.
Despite the lack of an official announcement from the Yankees, Passan’s sources confirm that Weaver will likely be unavailable for at least the entire month of June when the team will play series against Red Sox, Royals, Guardians, Angels, Orioles, among others.
What Do the Yankees Lose with Weaver’s Absence?
Beyond being considered the Yankees’ top closer, Weaver’s absence means the team loses a crucial arm from their bullpen. So far this MLB season, he’s posted an impressive 1.05 ERA over 25.2 innings across 24 appearances for the Bombers.
This marks Weaver’s third season in New York, and expectations were high for him to surpass his previous year’s performance, where he recorded a 2.89 ERA and a 7-3 record in 62 games. His conversion to a closer has been quite successful, but this injury will undoubtedly set him back this year.
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Who Steps in as Closer if Weaver is Injured?
While the Yankees boast a strong selection of arms in their bullpen, it’s highly probable that Devin Williams will assume the closer role during Weaver’s absence. Williams has previously filled the position for the team, though his initial performance was not as strong as anticipated.
Recent reports indicated he had improved his stats after stepping away from the closer role, posting a 2.45 ERA, 1.45 FIP, 42.9% strikeout rate, and a .111 batting average against.