Luke Weaver Bio
Luke Allen Weaver is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the St. Louis Cardinals, Arizona Diamondbacks, Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners, and New York Yankees.
Drafted in the first round of the 2014 MLB draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, Weaver reached the majors in 2016 and has since developed into a reliable relief pitcher, including a stint as the closer for the New York Yankees in 2024.
Early Life and Background
Luke Allen Weaver was born on August 21, 1993, in DeLand, Florida. He grew up a fan of the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball and graduated from DeLand High School in DeLand, Florida, in 2011. That same year, he was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 19th round of the 2011 MLB draft, but chose not to sign, opting instead to pursue a college career.
Weaver attended Florida State University, where he played college baseball for the Florida State Seminoles from 2012 to 2014. After the 2012 season, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League. As a sophomore in 2013, he posted a 7-2 win-loss record with a 2.29 earned run average in 17 games, and in 2014, as a junior, he went 8-4 with a 2.62 ERA in 16 starts.
Path to Baseball
Weaver’s strong junior season at Florida State helped establish him as a top pitching prospect heading into the 2014 MLB draft. The St. Louis Cardinals selected him in the first round with the 27th overall pick, signaling their confidence in his long-term potential as a starting pitcher.
He signed with the Cardinals on June 16, 2014, and made his professional debut that summer for the GCL Cardinals before being promoted to the Palm Beach Cardinals on August 1. In six starts between the two teams, he posted a 0-1 record with a 7.71 ERA, gaining his first exposure to professional hitters.
Luke Weaver Career
Minor League Development (2014-2016)
Weaver spent the 2015 season with the Palm Beach Cardinals, where he earned the Cardinals July Pitcher of the Month Award after going 3-1 with a 0.94 ERA in 28 and one-third innings pitched. Baseball America selected him for the high Class-A minor leagues All-Star team for the 2015 season. In 19 total starts for Palm Beach, he finished 8-5 with a 1.62 ERA, establishing himself as one of the top arms in the organization.
Heading into 2016, Baseball America ranked Weaver as the Cardinals’ fourth-best prospect. He did not make his 2016 debut for the Springfield Cardinals until June 4 because of a fractured left wrist sustained while running down fly balls during batting practice in spring training. After posting a 1.40 ERA with 88 strikeouts in 77 innings with Springfield, the Cardinals promoted him to the Memphis Redbirds on August 3, paving the way for his big-league call-up.
St. Louis Cardinals Debut (2016-2018)
On August 13, 2016, the Cardinals called Weaver up from Memphis to make his major league debut and start in place of injured starter Michael Wacha against the Chicago Cubs. He struck out his first major league opponent, Dexter Fowler, and pitched four innings in an eventual 8-4 win. In nine games that season, he went 1-4 with a 5.70 ERA, while MLB Pipeline and the Cardinals both named him their 2016 Minor League Pitcher of the Year.
After a 2017 split between Memphis and St. Louis that included a Pacific Coast League Player of the Month honor, Weaver began 2018 in the Cardinals’ starting rotation. He was moved to the bullpen in mid-August after compiling a 6-11 record with a 4.67 ERA in 24 starts, finishing the year at 7-11 with a 4.95 ERA across 30 games.
Arizona Diamondbacks Years (2019-2022)
On December 5, 2018, the Cardinals traded Weaver, Carson Kelly, Andy Young, and a draft pick to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for Paul Goldschmidt. He appeared in just 12 games in 2019, producing a 2.94 ERA with 69 strikeouts in 64 and one-third innings. His 2020 campaign was more difficult, as he went 1-9 with a 6.58 ERA and led the National League in losses during the shortened season.
After a 2021 season spent partly on the injured list with a right shoulder strain, Weaver began the 2022 season as a relief pitcher for Arizona but struggled to a 7.71 ERA in 12 games. On August 1, 2022, the Diamondbacks traded him to the Kansas City Royals for infielder Emmanuel Rivera, and the Mariners later claimed him off waivers before he became a free agent.
Bullpen Transitions and Yankees Resurgence (2022-2024)
Following brief stints with the Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds, and Seattle Mariners that included midseason releases, Weaver signed with the New York Yankees in 2023 and reinvented himself as a reliever. In 2024, he took over as the Yankees’ closer in September following struggles from Clay Holmes, earning his first career save against the Chicago Cubs on September 6 and converting all four of his save chances that month.
Weaver remained the Yankees’ closer during the 2024 postseason, saving all three wins against the Royals in the ALDS. He rebounded in Game 5 of the ALCS against the Cleveland Guardians, pitching two scoreless innings to help the Yankees reach the 2024 World Series. In 64 appearances for the Yankees in 2025, he logged a 3.62 ERA with 72 strikeouts and eight saves.
New York Mets Era (2025-Present)
On December 22, 2025, Weaver signed a two-year, $22 million contract with the New York Mets, bringing his experience as a late-inning reliever to a new National League club. The deal reflected his strong late-inning work in pinstripes and gave the Mets a veteran presence in the back end of their bullpen heading into the 2026 season.
Entering the 2025 season, Weaver brought momentum from a successful Yankees tenure, including his first extended run as a closer and postseason heroics. His arrival in Queens signaled the Mets’ intent to add stability and high-leverage experience to their relief corps.
Driving Style and Strengths
Weaver has thrived in shorter outings by relying on sharp command and the ability to miss bats in key moments. His transition to the bullpen allowed him to empty the tank more often, and his 2024 success with the Yankees highlighted his composure in high-leverage spots.
Notable Events and Milestones
Weaver’s first career save came on September 6, 2024, against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, and he later saved all three Yankees wins in the 2024 ALDS against the Royals. Since 2024, his entrance song at home games has been “Dream Weaver” by Gary Wright, a nod to his last name that has become a fan favorite.
Luke Weaver Career Wins
Luke Weaver has compiled a career arc defined by steady reinvention, moving from a first-round starting pitching prospect to a trusted late-inning reliever. While his win totals as a starter were modest, his postseason performance and closing duties with the Yankees marked the most meaningful victories of his major league career.
MLB Highlights
Weaver earned his first major league win in 2016 with the St. Louis Cardinals and posted a 7-2 record for St. Louis in 2017 across 13 games, including ten starts. His most recent win came during the 2024 ALCS, when he pitched two scoreless innings in Game 5 against the Cleveland Guardians to help the Yankees advance to the 2024 World Series.
Other Wins and Performances
As a minor leaguer, Weaver starred with the Palm Beach Cardinals and Springfield Cardinals, winning the Cardinals July Pitcher of the Month Award in 2015 and earning Pacific Coast League Player of the Month honors in May 2017 with the Memphis Redbirds.
Luke Weaver Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Luke Weaver’s roots are firmly tied to DeLand, Florida, where he grew up supporting the Tampa Bay Rays. He attended DeLand High School in 2011 before continuing his baseball development at Florida State University, where he played for the Florida State Seminoles from 2012 to 2014.
Personal Life
Weaver is married to Olivia Weaver, and the couple welcomed their first child, a daughter, in October 2019. He is a Christian, and his faith has been a noted part of his public identity throughout his career.
2025 Season Performance
Weaver opened 2025 as the New York Yankees’ closer, with the team reasserting his role on April 27 after a brief demotion of Devin Williams. He delivered strong results over 64 appearances, logging a 3.62 ERA with 72 strikeouts and eight saves across 64 and two-thirds innings, anchoring the back end of the Yankees’ bullpen.
A left hamstring strain suffered on June 1 sidelined him for a stretch, but Weaver returned to contribute during the Yankees’ postseason push, including his Game 5 heroics against the Cleveland Guardians in the ALCS. Following the season, the Yankees declined to bring him back on a similar deal, and he signed a two-year, $22 million contract with the New York Mets on December 22, 2025.
Looking ahead, Weaver is expected to serve as a high-leverage reliever for the Mets, where his closing experience and postseason résumé figure to play a central role in their bullpen plans.