Acce s the Yankees beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees. The Yankees bullpen got deeper and more dangerous Friday, if slightly more injury-prone. Jonathan Loisiga was activated off the injured list in time for the Subway Series in The Bronx, with the righty reliever making it back 13 months after . The Yankees had initially planned to have Loisiga finish off his rehab a signment by throwing on back-to-back days this weekend at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, but instead brought him back early because of how well he was throwing the ball and bouncing back. In the end, we decided hes pitched a lot. Hes done everything weve Michael Petersen Jersey needed him to do, manager Aaron Boone said Friday before hosting the Mets. Hes had probably more than even a normal spring training, as far as buildup, and its just been so good. We feel like we should be able to protect him here in this first week, 10 days, two weeks. We can protect him when he pitches, having him down, things like that. So well be mindful of that. Jonathan Loisiga was activated from the injured list on Friday. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post Just felt like what weve been looking at the last few months, its been really good. Loisiga has been strong for the Yankees when healthy, posting a 2.98 ERA in 139 games from 2020-2024. The only problem has been staying off the injured list, which has been a struggle. Explore More He mi sed time in 2019 and 2021 with a shoulder strain and in 2022 with shoulder inflammation, had surgery in 2023 to remove a bone spur in his right elbow and underwent UCL reconstruction with an internal brace in April of last year after making just three appearances. At his best, though, Loisiga can be a righty killer with a high-90s sinker, providing more of a power look than the rest of the arms the Yankees currently have in their bullpen a unit that entered Friday with an ERA of 3.47, good for ninth best in the majors, even with Devin Williams inflated numbers. Really excited the way hes throwing the ball and what he can mean to our pen, Boone said. The Yankees designated lefty reliever Tyler Matzek for a signment to make room for Loisiga. They liked what they saw from the veteran Matzek early in spring training, but upon returning from an oblique strain, he was not sharp in seven appearances. Tyler Matzek was designated for a signment on Friday. AP Loisiga, meanwhile, pitched in six rehab games over the past three weeks, striking out nine and walking none acro s 7 / innings. He recorded more than three outs twice, but did not throw more than 20 pitches in any of the outings. Command can often be the last thing to come back for pitchers returning from elbow surgery, but Loisiga said he felt good about it. Obviously, this is a different kind of competition level of baseball here, he said through an interpreter. But overall, pretty good. Go beyond the box score with the Bombers Sign up for Inside the Yankees by Greg Joyce, exclusively on Sports+. Thank you By clicking above you agree to the and . Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Loisiga re-signed with the Yankees over the offseason on a one-year, $5 million deal with a $5 million club option for 2026. He said this spring he felt he owed it to the team and fans to return after throwing just four innings last season. Boone said the Yankees will be careful with Loisiga over the next few weeks to make sure he is recovering properly and that they dont push him too hard too soon. But he also said he would not be afraid to throw Loisiga into high-leverage spots, giving them yet another setup option along with Fernando Cruz, Mark Leiter Jr. and Williams on the way to Luke Weaver. After surgery, that moment where you cant really do much can be a frustrating time, especially if youve had multiple injuries, Loisiga said. Its a time where youre thinking a lot. But I got to be very thankful to God for giving me this opportunity to be ready, the support from my family, all of it. Its a combination of things that guided me and helped me get back here. Victor Mesa Jersey