MINNEAPOLIS — Ryan Weathers knows he is up against the clock, but he took a step Tuesday toward giving himself a chance to beat it.
The Yankees left-hander threw his first bullpen session since landing on the injured list with a left forearm flexor strain, mixing in all of his offerings across 15 pitches at Target Field and came out of it feeling good.
“Probably a little firmer [velocity] than I wanted it to be, honestly — was like 87-90 [mph] today, which is usually higher than I am when I’m throwing my midweek bullpens,” Weathers said. “So everything’s in a good spot, metrics were good, so just stacking reps now.”
If he recovers well from it, Weathers expects to throw another bullpen session Friday and then potentially advance to live batting practice from there.
With the minor league season ending Sunday, he will not have an opportunity for a rehab assignment, but he is trying to push the envelope and potentially get back to join the Yankees bullpen after only facing hitters once.
Weathers’ preference would be to get activated in time to pitch in a regular-season game to get his feet under him before the playoffs, though it remains to be seen if that will be possible.
“I know I got one inning, [so] go out there and let your stuff rip,” said Weathers, who has prior experience pitching in relief. “It kind of helps me hopefully be able to get back, as long as everything feels good, knowing I can serve in a one-inning, one-plus-inning role.”
If Weathers is able to get back in time, he would give the Yankees a power lefty in the bullpen in addition Brent Headrick (whose velocity has started to drop with a heavy workload as a setup man) and the soft-tossing Tim Hill, who has been more home-run-prone than usual.
Clarke Schmidt is set to be activated off the injured list for Wednesday’s series finale to join the bullpen, trying to show he can play an impact role down the stretch despite not having pitched in a big league game in 14-plus months after undergoing Tommy John surgery last July.
Aaron Judge got Tuesday off after playing four straight games.
Aaron Boone had initially targeted Wednesday for a day off for his right fielder, but landed on Tuesday, after which he should essentially be a full go in his comeback from a right rib stress fracture.
Top shortstop prospect Dax Kilby is among the Yankees contingent headed to play in the Arizona Fall League next month.
The 19-year-old Kilby, the club’s first-round draft pick last summer, missed a large chunk of this season with a hamstring injury.
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