It’s not every day you see a Red Sox legend offering words of encouragement to a Yankees player, especially when that legend is none other than David “Big Papi” Ortiz, one of the most iconic figures in Boston’s recent history.
Yet the Dominican Hall of Famer momentarily set aside the storied rivalry with the Bronx Bombers to deliver a message of support to a struggling star: Luke Weaver.
The right-hander was a pillar of the Yankees’ bullpen throughout the regular season, posting a 4–4 record with eight saves across 64 appearances (64 2/3 innings). He finished with a 3.62 ERA and struck out 72 batters, emerging as one of the club’s most reliable arms.
But the postseason has told a different story. In Game 1 of the Wild Card Series against Boston, Weaver failed to record an out, allowing all three batters he faced to reach base, with two crossing the plate. His struggles continued in Game 1 of the Division Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, where he again couldn’t retire a batter. He surrendered two hits, issued a walk, and watched all three runners score.
Understandably, Weaver is frustrated. Still, he remains optimistic about turning things around.
“I feel like I’m close. I feel like I’m competitive,” he said in a post-game interview posted to X by YES Network. “I don’t feel like I’m getting hit hard. Guys are finding some holes. … I just felt late in the adjustments I was making.”
While participating in the postgame analysis on Fox Sports MLB, Ortiz commented on what Weaver had said to reporters. The former Red Sox player’s recommendation was to let go of what had already happened and focus on the next challenge.
“He got good stuff. But sometimes you know you kind of have to let it go,” Ortiz said, as it can be seen on a video posted to X by Fox Sports: MLB.
“You know, let the question come to you, answer whatever. But your mindset has to be still the same. Whatever you do during the regular season, that’s the mentality. You help the Yankees come out of the bullpen to be where they are.”
Ortiz even shared what he would say to Weaver if given the chance to speak with him directly inside the Yankees’ clubhouse.
“I’d tell him, ‘Hey, listen, whatever happened today is not going to help us tomorrow. Tomorrow, what’s going to help us is you coming in with the same mentality that you did during the 162 games to help us win the World Series,'” Ortiz said during the same commentary.
The Yankees lost the first game of the Division Series against the Blue Jays 10-1. The second game will be played on Sunday, with Max Fried and Trey Yesavage as starting pitchers for each team, respectively.
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