When Luke Weaver reported to spring training earlier this year, the Yankees weren’t quite sure what they had.
An unsuccessful career starter, Weaver re-signed with the club over the offseason after a brief but successful audition at the end of 2023. The deal came with incentives fit for a swingman role, but Weaver wasn’t much of a projected rotation option.
It wasn’t clear what role he would fill, as a change to his delivery yielded a “mixed bag” of results in camp, Aaron Boone said. But after a strong season as a first-time high-leverage reliever, Weaver is now looking like a potential closer with the Yankees uncommitted to one.
Weaver continued to make that case in Wednesday’s 4-3, 11-inning win over the Royals. The righty recorded the final five outs without allowing a hit, a run or a walk. He also struck out three.
One of those strikeouts came again Maikel Garcia to end the top of the 11th. With a runner stranded on second, Weaver let out a scream as he left the mound.
“His stuff right now is excellent,” Boone said. “Feel like he’s getting his fastball to where he wants to. It’s got great life to it, but he’s got the ability to mix in secondary.
“He was excellent. He was dialed in.”
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Weaver was also dialed in for his previous two appearances. On Sept. 9, he pitched a scoreless eighth and picked up a hold. Then there was Sept. 6, when Weaver recorded the first save of his career at Wrigley Field.
“I couldn’t see straight,” Weaver told reporters at the time. “I was blacked out for the most part. I was on pure adrenaline, but it was a great time.”
While Weaver only has one save, he has finished nine games while recording a 3.17 ERA and a 28.2 K% over 57 appearances this season. He also leads Yankees relievers with 76.2 innings pitched; he’s been the most consistent member of their bullpen over the course of the entire season.
If the Yankees were to name a new closer after recently pulling Clay Holmes from the role, Weaver would make the most sense despite his limited experience. However, the Yankees have been mixing and matching in the late innings.
On Thursday, Boone reiterated that he’d be comfortable with that approach in the playoffs, though he didn’t shut the door on potentially naming a closer before that.
“I feel very comfortable about a number of guys throwing the final pitch of a big game,” Boone continued.
With that said, Weaver has certainly established himself as one of those guys. Even if he doesn’t get the official title, don’t be surprised if he closes a few more games in the coming weeks.
“He’s now getting more and more used to, with the year that he’s had, being in these big moments in these big parts of the game,” Boone said.
THE LATEST ON TRIVINO
With Lou Trivino’s rehab clock close to expiring, Boone was asked about the reliever on Thursday.
“He’s been throwing the ball pretty well, so we’ll see,” the manager said. “Not necessarily committed to anything right now.”
Trivino has not pitched in the majors since 2022 due to Tommy John surgery, and he suffered a setback due to elbow inflammation earlier this season. Entering Thursday, he had a 5.40 ERA over 10 minor league games.