{"id":132933,"date":"2025-08-09T23:30:12","date_gmt":"2025-08-09T23:30:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/132933\/"},"modified":"2025-08-09T23:30:12","modified_gmt":"2025-08-09T23:30:12","slug":"mariano-rivera-tears-achilles-in-yankees-old-timers-day-nightmare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/132933\/","title":{"rendered":"Mariano Rivera tears Achilles in Yankees Old-Timers’ Day nightmare"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mariano Rivera had targeted Old-Timers\u2019 Day to share a moment and share advice with struggling Yankees reliever Devin Williams<\/a>, believing he could help.<\/p>\n

The greatest closer of all time never made it to him.<\/p>\n

Rivera tore his Achilles during the alumni game, his agent, Fernando Cuza, said after the festivities and after the Yankees\u2019 5-4 win over the Astros<\/a> in The Bronx on Saturday. Rivera will undergo surgery next week.<\/p>\n

The exact timing of the injury \u2014 he ran the bases on a single and played the outfield during the brief exhibition \u2014 is unclear.<\/p>\n

The Yankees held the alumni game for the first time since 2019 and had shelved it in part because of the injury risk associated with older people running and throwing after often long periods without running or throwing.<\/p>\n

Mariano Rivera hits a single during the Old-Timers\u2019 Day game at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx on August 9, 2025. JASON SZENES\/ NY POST<\/p>\n

\n

Roger Clemens said that Mariano Rivera is at the hospital because he thinks he popped his achilles during the Old-Timers\u2019 Game pic.twitter.com\/VzCNWSgdK5<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Talkin’ Yanks (@TalkinYanks) August 9, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Rivera has famously had a history of freak practice injuries. In May 2012, he was shagging fly balls before a game and tore his ACL, knocked out for the rest of that season.<\/p>\n

The injury sidetracked Rivera\u2019s intention to speak with Williams. Before the festivities, Rivera said he did not want to reveal what would have been his precise message.<\/p>\n

Former New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera waves to fans at Old-Timers\u2019 Day. Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Rivera \u2014 the first and only unanimously voted Hall of Famer and unquestionably the best reliever ever \u2014 did not have a ton of struggles through 19 seasons, but he still learned how to handle the adversity that comes with the game and comes with the closer role.<\/p>\n

\u201cForget about it,\u201d Rivera said about overcoming struggles such as a blown save. \u201cYou can\u2019t do nothing about it. What\u2019s done is done. Move on and be confident. You have to be confident in yourself. If you\u2019re not confident in yourself, why are you playing the sport?\u201d<\/p>\n

A night earlier, Williams acknowledged his confidence is not \u201cas high as it\u2019s ever been,\u201d after essentially costing his team a third game in as many appearances. Williams, a two-time All-Star with the Brewers who has been among the best arms in the game in his career, owns a 5.73 ERA and has allowed at least a run<\/a> in his past five games.<\/p>\n

Mariano Rivera hits a single during the Old-Timers\u2019 Day game at Yankee Stadium. JASON SZENES\/ NY POST<\/p>\n

\u201cAny time Mo\u2019s around, I know guys \u2014 not just guys in the pen, but everyone \u2014 appreciate the wisdom he provides,\u201d manager Aaron Boone said before the win. \u201cWhat Mariano was so good at was just that he wasn\u2019t affected by yesterday\u2019s performance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Boone has said he wants to find less-stressful situations for Williams to help reclaim his confidence.<\/p>\n

\u201c[Williams] needs to be a little more positive,\u201d said Old-Timer Jorge Posada, who knew how to guide pitchers through rough times. \u201cYou got to get him through \u2026 these key situations. Hopefully he gets his mind right.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t