Luke Weaver took long, winding road to become Yankees closer

The reliever who will be tasked with getting some of the biggest outs of the playoffs for the Yankees was just a waiver claim eating innings last September.By January, he was a $2 million flier re-signed for starting depth and by March, he made the Opening Day roster as a long man.But now in October, Luke Weaver has emerged as the biggest weapon in the Yankees bullpen, one who has effectively taken over the closer’s job and will remain there in the postseason, unless they need him with the game on the line before the ninth inning.“I know I surprised the world a little bit, but I feel like this game’s hard,” Weaver said Tuesday before a workout at Yankee Stadium ahead of the ALDS beginning on Saturday.“This game comes with a lot of success and a lot of failure.

In my account, the failure has definitely filled up a lot of the chapters.But it was for good reason.“It’s prepared me for this moment to allow me to pitch in a city like this with a team that’s as good as they are and to hopefully be a key piece down the stretch here.

Definitely had confidence in myself, but it was long, long-awaited.”Ten years removed from being a first-round pick of the Cardinals out of Florida State, the 31-year-old Weaver has found his niche.He finished the regular season with a 2.89 ERA and 103 strikeouts across 84 innings.

For a bullpen that lost Michael King in the Juan Soto trade last offseason, Weaver is the closest thing to King the Yankees had this season, an arm who could go multiple innings and eventually close out games once manager Aaron Boone removed Clay Holmes from closing duties in the first week of September.After successfully converting his first career save opportunity on Sept.6 at Wrigley Field, Weaver finished the year without allowing an earned run across eight appearances and 11 innings while striking out 24 and walking three, with four saves.“He’s a better pitcher than he’s probably ever been in his life, and that’s a credit to him for ...