Baseball players deal with some pretty ridiculous injuries. Pulled hamstrings. Blisters. Torn UCLs. Broken bats flying into places they probably shouldn’t.
But Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Luke Weaver is currently fighting an opponent that nobody saw coming:
Poison ivy.
Yes, poison ivy.
Weaver revealed that he has been dealing with a severe case of poison ivy for nearly a month, and it has become a legitimate issue both on and off the mound. The problem reportedly started in Miami after Weaver brushed against a bush. What followed was apparently the kind of reaction that makes you reconsider ever touching another plant again.
According to Weaver, the reaction spread across his lower body and left him dealing with hives and major sleep problems. He said he has been waking up frequently and hasn’t been sleeping properly for about a month.
Which, as you might imagine, isn’t exactly ideal preparation for pitching against major league hitters.
From Dominant to Miserable
The timing is especially unfortunate because Weaver was pitching extremely well before joining the Pirates.
With the New York Mets, Weaver posted a 1.84 ERA over 44 innings before being traded to Pittsburgh at the trade deadline.
Since arriving in Pittsburgh, however, his numbers have taken a serious hit. Weaver has posted a 5.79 ERA across 10 appearances with the Pirates.
That’s a pretty dramatic difference.
And while baseball fans are naturally going to look at the numbers and wonder what happened, Weaver now has a pretty convincing explanation.
It wasn’t his arm.
It wasn’t a mechanical issue.
It wasn’t even the classic “baseball is baseball” excuse.
A bush got him.
The Pirates Know It’s Serious
Pirates manager Don Kelly acknowledged that Weaver has been dealing with a particularly bad case of poison ivy and said the team’s medical staff has been working with him.
The good news is that Weaver is reportedly starting to improve.
The bad news?
Apparently poison ivy has decided it wants to pitch in the National League.
Kelly described the case as difficult to get rid of, which makes Weaver’s situation even more frustrating. Imagine getting traded at the deadline, joining a new team, trying to establish yourself in a new bullpen—and then getting taken out by vegetation.
That’s baseball in 2026.
The Worst Part Might Be the Sleep
The rash itself would be bad enough, but Weaver said the biggest issue has also been getting quality sleep.
That’s a massive problem for a professional athlete.
Pitchers already spend countless hours trying to recover between appearances. Add a severe rash, constant itching and waking up throughout the night, and suddenly you’re asking someone to throw a baseball 95 miles per hour while operating on the sleep schedule of a parent with a newborn.
It’s no surprise that Weaver’s performance has suffered.
And honestly, if I were him, I would probably blame the bush too.
A Reminder That Baseball Injuries Can Be Really Weird
Weaver’s situation is a perfect example of how unpredictable professional sports can be.
One minute you’re dominating MLB hitters with a 1.84 ERA.
The next minute you’re in Pittsburgh trying to figure out how a shrub became the biggest threat to your career.
The good news is that Weaver appears to be getting better, and if he can finally get the poison ivy under control—and get some actual sleep—there’s reason to believe he can get back toward the pitcher he was with the Mets.
Because let’s be honest:
Luke Weaver didn’t suddenly forget how to pitch.
He just apparently picked the wrong bush.
And somewhere in Miami, that bush is undefeated.
Final score:
Luke Weaver: 0
Poison Ivy: 1
For now, the Pirates may want to keep Weaver away from the bullpen garden.
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