The Yankees plan to start the 2026 season with a shortstop, and it’s crucial that their newly acquired pitcher sorts out his injury problems.
Ryan Weathers, a promising left-handed pitcher, was picked up by the Marlins earlier in the week as a candidate for a fourth minor league spot. However, last season, he only managed to start eight games due to ongoing issues with his forearm and lat muscles.
At 26, Weathers, whose father is former Yankees pitcher David Weathers, mentioned that he learned about the trade shortly after a bullpen session this offseason.
“I’m feeling great. The other day in the bullpen was probably the best I’ve felt in a year and a half. I really feel healthy,” Weathers shared in a Zoom call on Thursday. “I’ve been focusing on stretching my lats and lengthening my back.”
“We made some adjustments to my lifting routines, changed up my mobility work, and I think my arms are really benefiting from those changes. I’m excited to see how the season plays out.”
With Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, and Clark Schmidt recovering from their own injuries, Weathers might have a shot at landing a spot in the Yankees’ starting rotation come April, alongside Max Fried, Cam Schrittler, Lewis Gil, and Will Warren.
Last season, Weathers began on the injured list with a flexor strain and returned to make his debut against the Cubs on May 14, allowing just one run in five innings. However, he only played in five games before re-injuring himself with a lat strain, missed three months, and returned for a few games in September.
Clearly, the Yankees see potential in this hard-throwing pitcher and decided to shake things up in their relatively quiet offseason.
Weathers expressed his enthusiasm about joining the Yankees: “It’s an incredible honor to pitch for such a prestigious organization. I was in my travel sauna after the bullpen session when I got the call about being traded to the Yankees,” he recounted. “I spoke with GM Brian Cashman and manager Aaron Boone. It was just pure shock. I couldn’t believe I had the chance to play for the Yankees.”
His father, David, spent two seasons with the Yankees during a 19-year MLB career and joined Joe Torre’s team in 1996 in a trade that led to a World Series title for the Yankees.
Weathers, who wasn’t born until 1999, shared that most of his childhood memories of baseball revolve around the six years his father spent with the Reds.
“We’ve had a pretty similar path from the Marlins to the Yankees,” said Weathers, referencing an incident from ’96 when his father had a memorable moment in Yankee Stadium during the World Series. “He says it was the loudest he’s ever heard it.”
With 24 starts for the Marlins over the last two seasons and a 3.74 ERA, Weathers aims to lead the Yankees back to the World Series and contribute to the team’s quest for its first championship since 2009.
When asked about potential pitching adjustments, Weathers mentioned there could be a shift in how his pitches are utilized, particularly with his two-seam fastball and the approach to his four-seamers and sweepers.
“Regardless of what the Yankees ask me to do, my job is to pitch—whatever that means,” he emphasized. “I’m eager to learn from the team. The rotation and bullpen have so much talent, and there’s no excuse not to absorb knowledge from the best.” He added, “Playing in pinstripes is really special. I enjoyed my time in San Diego and Miami, but there’s something about the energy in New York—it’s just the big leagues. I’m pumped.”
