When the Yankees took a chance on Ryan Weathers from Miami, they knew they were rolling the dice on a pitcher with a history of injuries. Over five major league seasons, Weathers has logged just 281 innings.
His peak was back in 2021 with 94.2 innings, and the closest he’s come since was 86.2 innings in 2024. Last year, he pitched only 38.1 innings, posting a 3.99 ERA with 8.69 strikeouts per nine innings and a 43.5% ground ball rate.
What Weathers excels at is limiting walks, a trait the Yankees value highly. They saw the potential upside and decided it was worth the risk. In his first spring outing, Weathers delivered 3.2 scoreless innings with five strikeouts, reaching a career-high 99.8 mph on his fastball.
The Injury Challenges
While the velocity boost is exciting, it doesn’t mean much if Weathers can't stay healthy. Since 2024, he’s pitched only 125 innings due to a series of arm injuries.
In 2025, Weathers was plagued by forearm and lat strains that restricted him to those 38.1 innings. Forearm issues are particularly concerning as they can signal more severe elbow problems.
The lat strain made matters worse, forcing Miami to sideline him for long periods. In 2024, a left index finger strain also hampered his progress.
“I was like, ‘I gotta figure out any way to stay healthy,’” Weathers shared, reflecting on his journey. His commitment to a new routine before joining the Yankees has shown benefits in both playing catch and recovery.
The Routine That Made a Difference
Weathers revamped his daily routine and recovery process. It’s not glamorous work, but it’s essential for keeping his body ready for the demands of pitching.
“That’s kind of what I’m trying to create: a boring routine to where I feel good every time I throw,” Weathers explained. “That’s what makes some guys really good. They have the same routine every day, and it could be boring, but it’s also probably why they’re healthy for 162-plus [games].”
Manager Aaron Boone has noticed the change, commenting on Weathers’ progress. “It seems like he really moved the needle this winter, getting in some good hands and understanding the arm care and the training and the eating and all that,” Boone said.
The Potential Arsenal
If Weathers can keep up the velocity and stay injury-free, he could be a significant asset for the Yankees, both in the rotation and possibly as a high-leverage bullpen arm come playoff time. He used a four-seam fastball, changeup, and sweeper against the Nationals, with the sweeper holding hitters to a .174 average last year-a top-tier secondary pitch.
His fastballs were inconsistent last season, and his changeup allowed a .286 average. However, with increased velocity, the Yankees see untapped potential. Matt Blake’s pitch design lab has enhanced his slider’s movement and deepened his changeup.
Weathers is aware that spring training success needs to carry into the regular season. “Hopefully, I can stay healthy,” he said.
“I want to be maintaining my stuff into the sixth, seventh inning. That’s what makes a lot of these guys really good: they can maintain their stuff throughout the outing.”
The Stakes for 2026
This season is pivotal for Weathers. The Yankees didn’t trade four prospects for someone who shines only in spring. They’re banking on a 26-year-old lefty with top-tier potential who has yet to fully realize it due to injuries.
The Yankees need reliable innings. With Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, and Clarke Schmidt all facing early absences (Schmidt likely out for the season), Weathers must be more than just depth. He needs to be a consistent presence in the rotation.
If his routine pays off, if his arm holds up, if his velocity remains, the Yankees might have snagged one of the off-season’s biggest bargains. A healthy Weathers with his high-90s fastball and devastating sweeper could be a no. 3 starter on a championship team.
An unhealthy Weathers, however, fades into the background. The key lies in the unglamorous grind of showing up every day and putting in the work.
So far, Weathers is doing just that.