Yankees Believe Pitcher Ryan Weathers Has Talent to 'Do Special Things'

Weathers, a hard-throwing lefty, has struggled with injuries in the past but the Yankees see big potential if he can stay healthy.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The New York Yankees believe pitcher Ryan Weathers has the talent to be a front-line starter in the major leagues, but the 26-year-old has struggled with injuries throughout his career. Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake, who first scouted Weathers in high school, says the young pitcher has "immense talent" and "good instincts" on the mound, but staying healthy will be the key to unlocking his full potential. Weathers was hit hard in a recent spring training outing, but the Yankees remain confident he can develop into a dominant starter if he can avoid the injury issues that have plagued him so far.

Why it matters

The Yankees are counting on Weathers to be an important new piece of their starting rotation this season, but his history of injuries raises questions about whether he can stay on the field and live up to the team's high expectations. Weathers' development is a key storyline to watch as the Yankees look to return to the playoffs in 2026.

The details

In a recent spring training start against the Mets, Weathers was knocked around for six runs (five earned) in just two innings, though he was routinely hitting 99 mph on the radar gun. Yankees manager Aaron Boone and pitching coach Matt Blake acknowledged that Weathers rushed his delivery at times, especially with runners on base, but they remain confident in his ability to develop into a front-line starter if he can stay healthy. The Yankees are working with Weathers on altering his workout routine in an effort to avoid the lat and flexor injuries that have sidelined him in the past.

  • Weathers made his spring training start against the Mets on Sunday, March 9, 2026.

The players

Ryan Weathers

A 26-year-old left-handed pitcher who was the 7th overall pick by the San Diego Padres in the 2018 MLB draft. Weathers has struggled with injuries throughout his professional career, but the Yankees believe he has the talent to develop into a front-line starting pitcher if he can stay healthy.

Matt Blake

The New York Yankees' pitching coach, who first scouted Weathers when he was in player development with the Cleveland Indians and was involved in the draft process that led to the Padres selecting Weathers in 2018.

Aaron Boone

The manager of the New York Yankees, who remains confident that Weathers can be a "front-line starter" if he can avoid the injury issues that have plagued him so far in his career.

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What they’re saying

“He has immense talent. The biggest thing is supporting him to keep his routine together to help keep him on the field.”

— Matt Blake, Yankees Pitching Coach

“I think he has a lot of room to grow. These are good situations to be in right now.”

— Aaron Boone, Yankees Manager

“He's really impressed everyone. His stuff is real. The big thing for him is getting out there and going to the post. I think he'll do special things. He's a beast.”

— Aaron Boone, Yankees Manager

What’s next

The Yankees will continue to monitor Weathers' progress and health throughout spring training as they determine his role in the starting rotation to begin the 2026 season.

The takeaway

The Yankees see immense potential in Ryan Weathers, but his ability to stay healthy and consistently perform at the major league level will be the key factor in determining whether he can live up to the team's high expectations and develop into a front-line starting pitcher.