Ryan Weathers' Injury Could Open Door for Yankees Pitching Prospect

This might also impact New York's pitching plans for the postseason

Aug 16, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Yankees starting pitcher Ryan Weathers (40) is relieved by manager Aaron Boone (17) against the Toronto Blue Jays during the eighth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Another New York Yankees pitcher appears to be dealing with an arm-related injury, which could create a short-term opportunity for one of the franchise's top prospects.

Left-hander Ryan Weathers exited New York's game on Saturday in the fourth inning due to "left forearm discomfort" and is set to undergo imaging, the Yankees announced. While no additional details have been provided yet, it's always concerning to hear that a hurler might be dealing with an injury to their pitching arm.

It's too early to speculate on how much time Weathers could miss due to this potential forearm injury. But if the 26-year-old lands on the injured list, the Yankees may consider calling up right-hander Elmer Rodríguez, New York's No. 3 prospect on MLB Pipeline. And in that scenario, the 23-year-old could play an important role for the Yankees down the stretch.

Could Elmer Rodríguez factor into the Yankees' pitching plans this fall?

May 5, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Elmer Rodriguez (71) pitches against the Texas Rangers during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

So far in 2026, Rodríguez has posted a 2.59 ERA in 19 Triple-A starts, striking out 99 batters in 97 1/3 innings. The 6-foot-4 righty has been called up to the big leagues a couple of times this season, including for his MLB debut in April. In four starts for the Yankees this year, the 23-year-old has a 4.76 ERA with 10 strikeouts and 11 walks in 17 innings.

With left-hander Max Fried recently returning to the injured list, New York would likely have to call up a pitcher if Weathers also ends up on the shelf. While the Yankees obviously could add someone other than Rodríguez to the rotation, the young hurler has pitched well lately for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. So far in August, the 2021 fourth-round draft pick has a 1.69 ERA in three Triple-A starts. That builds on his 2.73 ERA in five July outings.

If the Yankees decide to bring Rodríguez back to the Bronx, he might also have a slight chance to audition for a role on the team's postseason roster. Weathers was considered a likely candidate to shift to the bullpen in October. But if that's no longer in play due to the left-hander's forearm injury, Rodríguez could become a late-season option for New York. At the same time, other pitchers working their way back from injuries, like Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil, could factor into this situation as well.

For now, though, many Yankees fans are anxiously awaiting the next update on Weathers.