When New York Yankees shortstop Tommy Kahnley issued a two-out walk to Jarrett Hampson in the eighth inning of the American League Division Series opener on Saturday night, it seemed like all was not yet lost for the Kansas City Royals. With the Yankees leading 6-5 after the controversial seventh inning, the walk put a potential tying run on base with ninth-place hitter Mikel Garcia, who had singled in the fourth, at the plate.
Enter, former royal Luke Weaver.
Weaver, a well-traveled player who had suddenly found success in the bullpen for the greatest franchise in baseball history, ended the threat on base and, ultimately, the game. Garcia struck out swinging in the third pitch to Weaver’s four-seamer, and Weaver then retired Michael Massey, Bobby Witt Jr., and Vinny Pasquantino in order — Massey and Witt Jr. on strikeouts — to preserve the Yankees’ 6-5 win and put them on top. The Royals lost 1-0 in this best-of-five series.
That Weaver performed well against them in such a big moment was something the Royals likely didn’t expect when they cut him from the organization two years ago. Now, he might be the force they need to plan for.
The KC Royals have let Luke Weaver go after the 2022 season
When Kansas City decided to cut Weaver and place him on waivers less than a month after the end of the 2022 season, the time and circumstances were very different than they are today.
At the time, the Royals were in desperate need of a pitch while struggling through what ultimately proved to be a projected 65-97 prelude to last year’s horrific 106-loss season, so at the 2022 trade deadline, Kansas City dealt for a Emmanuel Rivera was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for Weaver. Despite getting hit for 14 runs in 16.1 innings in Arizona, things got better for the pitcher in Kansas City — but not by much. Weaver pitched 14 times for the Royals and gave up 15 runs (three unearned) in 19.1 innings, and was eventually placed on waivers after the season.
Weaver was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Mariners, thus ending his brief tenure in Kansas City, but in a strange turn of events, the Mariners let him go less than a month later. The Cincinnati Reds only optioned Weaver to release him through the 2023 season, at which time the Mariners re-signed him. Three weeks later, Seattle designated Weaver for assignment, and he then went to the Yankees, who claimed him on waivers.
After signing a one-year contract with New York, Weaver began this season with a 27-42 major league record across eight years and varying stints with the St. Louis Cardinals, Diamondbacks, Royals, Reds, and Mariners. But given what he did for New York this year, he may be in the Bronx to stay.
KC’s finish on Saturday is just part of Luke Weaver’s recent success
Given the standard he set in his short time with the Yankees, the Royals shouldn’t be surprised at how Weaver dominated them in the first game. He entered September with a 3.31 ERA, a 4-3 record, and 21 strikeouts in 53 games out of manager Aaron. Bon game. Then, thanks to a solid 3-0, 1.50 ERA in September that included his first four major league saves, his new status as New York’s closer became clear.
That’s why he picked Boone Weaver when he needed someone to crush Kansas City’s emerging threat in the eighth inning on Saturday, and why he stuck with him in the ninth. And given the way he shut out his previous team, Weaver could be a force to reckon with before this Division Series is over.
More ALDS news from Kings of Kauffman
He feeds
