PRP treatment gives Yankees pitcher hope for early return

Yankees closer Luke Weaver is showing encouraging signs early in his recovery from a left hamstring strain.

After receiving a PRP injection this week, Weaver resumed throwing Thursday and again before Friday’s series opener against the Red Sox.

“He’s moving around in the early stages,” manager Aaron Boone said. “He’s expressed optimism considering the injury and the timeline — hopefully he beats it.”

Yankees closer Luke Weaver will be placed on the IL after suffering a hamstring injury.

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Weaver felt something in his hamstring when he went to warm up on Sunday night in Los Angeles. He was diagnosed with a hamstring strain before Tuesday's game, when he was officially placed on the injured list.  Hamstring injuries are notoriously tricky, and the news that he received a PRP, or platelet-rich plasma injection, indicates it was a pretty serious strain. 

The loss of Weaver is a blow to the Yankees. 

Boone had only recently stabilized the bullpen by putting Weaver in the closer role.  The beginning of the season had been a hair-raising rollercoaster ride with Devin Williams closing games. Now, the Yankees will have to rely on Williams, even though he has yet to earn back that trust. 

In 24 appearances, Weaver boasts a 1.05 ERA and a 0.70 WHIP, with 24 strikeouts over 25⅔ innings. His dominance is reflected in his .148 opponent batting average and a 2.08 hits per nine innings rate. Weaver has converted 8 of 9 save opportunities. 

Originally expected to miss four to six weeks per ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Weaver told the team he’s hopeful to return in as little as 15 days. Boone was highly skeptical of that.