Ryan Weathers’ Early Spring Struggles Raise Concerns for Yankees Rotation Depth

With Opening Day approaching rapidly, the New York Yankees are entering the final stretch of Spring Training evaluations, a period that often reveals both encouraging breakthroughs and unexpected concerns. One storyline quietly developing in Tampa involves newly acquired pitcher Ryan Weathers, whose early performances have raised questions about his role in the Yankees’ rotation heading into the 2026 season.

The Yankees made a notable decision during the offseason when they traded for Weathers, a 26 year old left handed pitcher once considered a promising arm with significant upside. The move signaled that New York was searching for additional pitching depth while waiting for key starters such as Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón to return from injury. However, only a few weeks into Spring Training, the early returns have been far from convincing.

While spring performances are rarely definitive indicators of regular season results, Weathers’ struggles have been difficult to ignore. Through his first three exhibition starts, the left hander has not delivered the type of command or consistency the Yankees likely envisioned when they made the trade. Instead, his outings have been marked by inefficiency, high pitch counts, and opposing hitters finding ways to capitalize on his mistakes.

The Yankees’ front office believed Weathers could provide reliable innings early in the season while the rotation stabilized. Yet the reality so far has been much different, forcing the organization to begin considering alternative scenarios should his struggles continue.

One of the primary reasons this situation has generated attention among Yankees fans is the cost of acquiring Weathers. In order to bring him to New York, the team reportedly sent four prospects to complete the deal. For a pitcher who has battled injuries and has never pitched more than 100 innings in a single season, the trade was already viewed by some observers as a gamble.

That gamble now appears even more questionable after Weathers’ early performances. While Spring Training statistics must always be taken with caution, the underlying issues in his outings have created legitimate concern about how he might perform once the regular season begins.

In his three spring appearances, Weathers has pitched only 9.1 total innings, an indication that the Yankees are carefully managing his workload as he continues to build arm strength. However, the limited innings have not prevented opposing hitters from finding success against him.

Currently, Weathers holds a Spring Training ERA of 8.68, a number that stands out even in the unpredictable environment of exhibition baseball. Over those 9.1 innings, he has allowed 15 hits and nine earned runs while striking out 12 batters. Although the strikeout numbers suggest his raw stuff still has potential, the amount of hard contact he has surrendered remains troubling.

Perhaps the most concerning aspect of his performances has been his inability to keep hitters off balance consistently. Averaging nearly one earned run allowed per inning is far from the level of production expected from a pitcher competing for a starting rotation spot on a team with championship aspirations.

Weathers’ most difficult outing of the spring came against the Atlanta Braves, a team widely recognized as one of baseball’s most powerful offensive lineups. In that appearance, Atlanta hitters appeared comfortable throughout the game, frequently driving the ball into play and forcing Weathers into long at bats.

Observers noted that Weathers looked unusually rusty during the outing, struggling to establish command early in counts and allowing Braves hitters to dictate the tempo of the game. His pitch count climbed quickly, preventing him from working deeper into the contest and further highlighting concerns about efficiency.

The Yankees coaching staff has not publicly expressed panic about the situation, but internally the team is undoubtedly evaluating how Weathers fits into their early season plans. With key veterans like Cole and Rodón expected to return later in the year, the Yankees need short term stability from the pitchers filling those temporary rotation roles.

Weathers’ career path leading to this point has been somewhat turbulent. Originally drafted by the San Diego Padres, he entered professional baseball with high expectations as a former top prospect. His early years with the Padres showed flashes of potential, but injuries and inconsistent performance prevented him from fully establishing himself in their rotation.

In August 2023, the Miami Marlins acquired Weathers in a trade, hoping a change of environment could help unlock his abilities. While he had moments of promise in Miami, he never quite developed into the dependable mid rotation starter many once projected him to be.

Now, as a member of the Yankees, Weathers finds himself on his third team since 2021. That kind of movement early in a pitcher’s career often reflects both the intrigue surrounding his talent and the frustration teams experience trying to harness it consistently.

The Yankees still believe there is upside in Weathers’ arm. His ability to generate strikeouts, particularly with a lively fastball and breaking pitches, remains attractive. However, success at the major league level requires far more than raw stuff alone.

Command, pitch sequencing, durability, and mental consistency are all crucial factors for a starting pitcher. At the moment, those areas remain works in progress for Weathers, and the Yankees cannot afford extended struggles while competing in the demanding American League East.

Adding further complexity to the situation is the presence of highly regarded pitching prospects waiting in the organization’s pipeline. Two names in particular have begun drawing attention during Spring Training: Carlos Lagrange and Elmer Rodriguez.

Both young pitchers have impressed coaches and scouts in different ways during camp. Rodriguez has been gaining recognition while representing Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, delivering strong performances that highlight his maturity and pitch control against international competition.

Meanwhile, Lagrange has become something of a buzzworthy name among Yankees observers due to the electric velocity he has displayed on the mound. His fastball has reportedly reached speeds that have left hitters struggling to make contact during spring outings.

While the Yankees typically prefer to allow prospects additional development time in the minor leagues, strong spring performances can accelerate those timelines. If Weathers continues to struggle, the pressure to give one of these young arms an opportunity could increase rapidly.

Manager Aaron Boone will ultimately play a significant role in determining how the Yankees handle this situation. Boone has shown in the past that he is willing to make adjustments when necessary, particularly if younger players demonstrate they are ready for greater responsibility.

One potential option the Yankees could consider is moving Weathers into a bullpen role if his starting performances do not improve. A transition to relief pitching could allow him to focus on shorter outings, potentially maximizing his velocity and reducing the pressure to navigate opposing lineups multiple times.

Such a move would also create an opening in the rotation that could be filled by one of the emerging prospects or another pitcher within the organization. Given the Yankees’ long term goals of competing for a championship, roster flexibility will remain an important part of their strategy.

For now, however, the Yankees are likely to remain patient. Spring Training is designed precisely for situations like this, allowing players to work through adjustments before the regular season begins. Weathers will still have opportunities to refine his mechanics, improve his command, and demonstrate that he can provide value to the team.

The coming weeks will therefore be critical for the left hander. A few strong outings could quickly change the narrative surrounding his spring performance and restore confidence among both fans and the coaching staff. Conversely, continued struggles may force the Yankees to explore alternative solutions sooner than expected.

As Opening Day approaches, the Yankees find themselves balancing optimism with caution. The organization believes in its pitching depth, but the early performance of Ryan Weathers has added an unexpected layer of uncertainty.

Whether he ultimately stabilizes his performance or yields his spot to one of the rising prospects remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the Yankees’ rotation picture could look very different by the time the regular season begins.