Mariano Rivera pitches again at Yankees Old-Timer’s Day after Achilles injury

Mariano Rivera made a comeback appearance at the Yankees’ Old-Timer’s Day, tossing eleven pitches to four batters with Jorge Posada behind the plate. The 56-year-old, who tore his Achilles tendon playing center field at the 2023 ceremony, underwent surgery and returned to the field this year. In addition to pitching, Rivera took an at-bat against Mike Stanton and ran to first base after a fly-out.

The ceremony honored longtime broadcaster John Sterling and included members of the 1996 World Series team such as Bernie Williams, Posada and Paul O’Neill. Derek Jeter was absent for the second consecutive year, while newcomers like David Weathers and several YES Network broadcasters attended for the first time. The event, a tradition dating back to 1947, also remembered the widows of Billy Martin, Thurman Munson and Bobby Murcer.