Latest news with #NationalLeagueRelieveroftheYear
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Yankees closer injury adds to bullpen challenges
Yankees closer injury adds to bullpen challenges originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The New York Yankees are bracing for another bullpen setback as closer Luke Weaver is expected to be placed on the injured list following a hamstring injury sustained during warm-ups Sunday night, sources told ESPN insider Jeff Passan. Advertisement Weaver, who has been closing for the Yankees since April, is expected to miss four to six weeks, Passan reported. This is a huge blow to a bullpen that was only stabalized when Weaver stepped into the closer role when Devin Williams couldn't handle it. New York Yankees pitcher Luke Weaver throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays April 19, 2025, at George M. Steinbrenner Field.© Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Williams, a two-time National League Reliever of the Year, was acquired last offseason to be the Yankees closer, but got off to a brutal start and lost the job. In his first 12 appearnaces, Williams allowed 10 earned runs over 8 1/3 innings pitched for a 11.25 ERA. That cost him the job as the closer. In his 15 appearances since, Williams has pitched to a 3.29 ERA. While it's not quite the dominance that he showed in Milwaukee that made the Yankees want to trade for him, it's been an improvement. Advertisement Still, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he would rather not move Williams back just last week. Now, he may not have a choice. As the Yankees adjust, the return of relievers like Fernando Cruz, currently recovering from a right shoulder issue, may become even more critical in stabilizing the bullpen during Weaver's absence. Cruz has earned two saves this season as Williams struggled. Weaver has been dominant this season in any role. He's pitched to a 1.05 ERA and racked up eight saves in 24 appearances this season. Related: Insider Flags Potential Shifts in Yankees' Roster Plans Related: Familiar Name Could Fix the Yankees' Infield Problems, Says Former Mets GM This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Yankees fans brace for 'nightmare fuel' after closer Luke Weaver injury announcement
Yankees fans brace for 'nightmare fuel' after closer Luke Weaver injury announcement originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The New York Yankees are staring down another bullpen challenge after closer Luke Weaver suffered a hamstring injury during warm-ups Sunday night and he is expected to miss four to six weeks. With Weaver sidelined, manager Aaron Boone confirmed that Devin Williams is set to reclaim the closer role. Advertisement That's a move that's stirring up a storm of reactions among Yankees fans on social media. One witty fan summed it up with 'From Cardiac Clay to Defibrillator Devin!' — a nod to the rollercoaster ride both Williams and another Yankees reliever, Clay Holmes, have provided. Another chimed in, 'Let Yarborough close,' while a more hopeful voice said, 'It's the correct move. Bash him all you want, Devin Williams is a closer and you traded a lot to be effective. He'll be fine.' But not everyone was optimistic. Comments ranged from 'This could get ugly!' and 'Nightmare fuel for all Yankee fans,' to the grim, 'I hear someone playing 'Taps' in the background. We are sunk.' And the reality check? 'Buckle up boys it's going to be a wild 4-6 weeks.' New York Yankees relief pitcher Devin WilliamsBrad Penner-Imagn Images Williams, once the dominant National League Reliever of the Year with the Milwaukee Brewers, struggled mightily in his early outings for the Yankees. In his first 12 appearances, he posted an eye-popping 11.25 ERA, allowing 10 earned runs over just 8⅓ innings, which cost him the closer's job. Advertisement It got so bad that Yankee Stadium was filled with chants for Boone to switch to Weaver. Since then, he's shown signs of improvement, cutting his ERA to 3.29 in his next 15 appearances, but the memories of that rough start still linger for many. Boone has stood behind Williams, saying the right-hander looks sharper lately and has shown improved command. Still, fans know the bullpen's stability is vital as the team pushes for a playoff spot in a tightly contested American League East. Williams is a free agent after this season, and if he can regain his closer form, he will certainly earn more money. If he fails again, it will cost him and the Yankees. Advertisement Related: Another Bullpen Setback Raises Concerns for Yankees' Closing Depth Related: Insider Flags Potential Shifts in Yankees' Roster Plans This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Eyewear Eruption Fuels Padres' Comeback Against Yankees
The New York Yankees watched the lead slip away in a rain‑soaked, sloppy eighth inning on Monday night at Yankee Stadium. Padres manager Mike Schildt probably just saw a blur as former two‑time National League Reliever of the Year Devin Williams melted down and gave his team the win. Williams, who has now lost his ninth‑inning role, talked about battling the elements in his latest meltdown. Advertisement But it was more likely flying eyewear that led to his collapse and ignited San Diego's comeback. New York Yankees relief pitcher Devin WilliamsBrad Penner-Imagn Images Shildt, furious over home‑plate umpire Adrian Johnson's ejection of Fernando Tatis Jr., stormed from the dugout and hurled his lineup card, pen and glasses before being tossed himself. That spectacle galvanized the Padres for a four‑run outburst that erased the Yankees' three‑run cushion. 'Shilty came down the tunnel and he was still chirping,' Xander Bogaerts said. 'I think he was ready to fight.' After walking former Yankees farmhand Tyler Wade on four pitches, Williams gave up a single to Brandon Lockridge and walked Arraez. Advertisement Aaron Boone turned to Luke Weaver, who surrendered a two‑run double to Manny Machado and a go‑ahead single to Bogaerts, sealing San Diego's 4‑3 victory. In the clubhouse, Luis Arraez admitted Schildt's tantrum 'fired us up and fueled the comeback.' Shildt later quipped, 'My glasses made it. I like these glasses a lot.' For the Yankees, it was another painful example of a bullpen collapse and closer meltdown under duress. Related: Carlos Rodon Gives Teammate Straight Talk About Yankees Fan Backlash From Experience Related: Could This Padres Ace Follow Aaron Judge's Lead Back to the Yankees?
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rodon Gives Teammate the Talk He Once Needed
Carlos Rodon knows what it feels like to be the most criticized player in pinstripes. For two seasons, he wore that target daily. And for stretches, he didn't much care for Yankees fans either. But that version of Rodon is gone. Advertisement The left-hander has turned his New York tenure around in a big way this year. He's become the kind of pitcher the Yankees can trust again. So when Devin Williams blew a lead in the eighth inning Monday night, allowing three runs on a hit and two walks, Rodon wasn't frustrated after the Yankees' 4-3 loss to the San Diego Padres. He was empathetic. New York Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodon pitches against the San Diego Padres at Yankee Stadium on May 5, 2025. © John Jones-Imagn Images 'I've been through it,' Rodon said. 'I know what that feels like. It's not easy. But we acquired him for a reason. He's such a great pitcher.' Rodon had just thrown 6 2/3 scoreless innings, only to watch it unravel in a game the Yankees lost. But he wasn't upset, just encouraging. Advertisement 'He just needs to build that confidence, and he needs to know what kind of pitcher he is,' Rodon said. 'He's so good. He's tremendous. He has an unbelievable changeup.' After being demoted from the closer's role, Williams had looked good in two scoreless appearances since. But overall, he has a blown save, a 10.05 ERA and has allowed 13 earned runs in 11 2/3 innings pitched. He's walked 10. Rodon understands the Yankees need Williams to get back on track. The two-time National League Reliever of the Year wasn't brought in to pitch mop-up innings. He was brought here to finish games. But confidence in a smaller market like Milwaukee doesn't always stand up to the bright lights in the Bronx. And Rodon, more than anyone, understands how hard it can be to recover after a tough start in pinstripes. Advertisement 'Just go out there and pitch with some swagger,' he said is his best advice to Williams. "They'll boo you, sure, but they'll love you when you do well too." Williams, for his part, said he had mechanical issues finding his landing spot in coordination with his release point. Still he said he wasn't giving up. "I am ready to go out there tomorrow," Williams said. Related: Yankees Manager Aaron Boone Pulls a Friendly Fake-Out on MLB Insider Related: Yankees Ace Gerrit Cole Reveals How He is Staying Sane During Rehab
Fox News
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Devin Williams' former Brewers teammate, Christian Yelich, says he'll be 'fine' amid Yankees struggles
The New York Yankees thought they had finally found their closer when they acquired two-time National League Reliever of the Year Devin Williams. On Sunday, they demoted him. Coming into this season, Williams owned a 1.83 ERA in his first six MLB seasons, all with the Milwaukee Brewers. That figure was the second-best in the majors, behind only Emmanuel Clase (who, too, is struggling), and his 14.3 K/9 in that span was the fourth-best. But with the Yankees, he had allowed 10 earned runs in his first eight innings of work, and after blowing a four-run lead and another save last week, New York announced they were taking him out of the closer's role. It's unfamiliar territory for Williams in more ways than one, as the talk in the tri-state area is that Williams is another victim of the bigger market. However, his former Brewers teammate in Christian Yelich disagrees. "Devin will be fine. He's one of the best closers in baseball. He's done it for a long time," Yelich told Fox News Digital in a recent interview. "Anything in a small sample size doesn't really tell the true story. You have a tough outing or two, everything kind of gets skewed. It's tough being a reliever when you only have a few innings early in the season and a couple of them don't go your way," he added. "But he'll be fine. He knows what he's getting into in New York. He's pitched in a lot of big games. So I'm not worried about him. He'll be just fine." Williams was notably not thrilled when he had to shave his beard, which became another stepping stone to owner Hal Steinbrenner ditching the longstanding policy implemented by his father in the 1970s. Yelich agrees that the policy-drop was a smart decision, but "we all got a good laugh about it with the Brewers" when Williams had to shave. Perhaps that has added to the pressure, but for Williams, while he was not the sole catalyst for the policy change, it's safe to assume he helped push it into the end zone. Williams has also reportedly complained about the media presence in the Yankees' clubhouse, which surely is a lot different from his days in Milwaukee. He appeared to have it figured out this month, when he had consecutive three-up, three-down outings. But since then, it's been tough to watch. For now, Williams is not a high-leverage option, which is poor timing for him because he's in his final season before free agency. Luke Weaver, who took on the closer's role last year after Clay Holmes lost the job, has closed out two games in the last week and has a 0.00 ERA in his 13 appearances this season. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
