Luke Weaver Bio
Luke Allen Weaver (born August 21, 1993) 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. A former first-round draft pick, Weaver began his career as a starting pitcher before reinventing himself as a late-inning reliever and closer.
Weaver attended Florida State University, where he starred for the Florida State Seminoles before being selected by the St. Louis Cardinals with the 27th overall pick in the 2014 MLB draft. He made his major league debut in 2016 and has since become known for his high strikeout rates and resilience after several team changes. Weaver is married to Olivia Weaver, with whom he welcomed a daughter in 2019.
Early Life and Background
Luke Allen Weaver was born on August 21, 1993, in DeLand, Florida. He grew up in the same central Florida community where he later attended high school, rooting for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball. The area’s rich baseball culture and warm weather gave him year-round opportunities to develop his game.
Weaver graduated from DeLand High School in 2011. That summer, the Toronto Blue Jays selected him in the 19th round of the 2011 MLB draft, but he opted to honor his college commitment rather than sign professionally. He enrolled at Florida State University in Tallahassee, joining one of the most respected college baseball programs in the country.
At Florida State, Weaver played college baseball for the Florida State Seminoles from 2012 to 2014. After his freshman year, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League, a traditional finishing school for top college arms. As a sophomore in 2013, he posted a 7–2 record and a 2.29 earned run average (ERA) in 17 appearances. In his junior season of 2014, he went 8–4 with a 2.62 ERA in 16 starts, cementing his status as a first-round talent.
Path to Major League Baseball
Following his strong junior campaign, the St. Louis Cardinals selected Weaver in the first round with the 27th overall pick of the 2014 MLB draft. He signed with the club on June 16 and began his professional career in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League before a quick promotion to the Palm Beach Cardinals. In six combined starts that summer, however, he struggled to a 7.71 ERA while adjusting to pro hitters.
Weaver returned to Palm Beach in 2015 and broke out as one of the organization’s top prospects. He earned Cardinals July Pitcher of the Month honors after going 3–1 with a 0.94 ERA and 27 strikeouts against just two walks. He finished the year 8–5 with a 1.62 ERA in 19 starts, and Baseball America named him to the high Class-A All-Star team.
Heading into 2016, Baseball America ranked Weaver as the Cardinals’ fourth-best prospect. After recovering from a fractured left wrist, he dominated at Springfield, going 6–3 with a 1.40 ERA and 88 strikeouts in 77 innings. That performance earned him both MLB Pipeline’s and the Cardinals’ 2016 Minor League Pitcher of the Year awards, setting the stage for his major league debut.
Luke Weaver Career
Early Career (2016–2018)
The Cardinals called Weaver up from Triple-A Memphis on August 13, 2016, to start in place of the injured Michael Wacha against the Chicago Cubs. In his debut, he struck out Dexter Fowler for his first major league punch-out and pitched four innings in a game the Cardinals ultimately won 8–4. He finished his first big-league season with a 1–4 record and a 5.70 ERA in nine appearances.
After spending the start of 2017 back in Memphis, where he was named Pacific Coast League Player of the Month in May, Weaver rejoined the Cardinals for good in mid-August. He went 7–2 with a 3.88 ERA in 13 games for St. Louis that year. In 2018, he opened the season in the starting rotation but was moved to the bullpen in mid-August amid a 6–11 stretch, finishing 7–11 with a 4.95 ERA across 30 games.
St. Louis Cardinals Breakthrough (2016–2018)
Although his raw numbers as a rookie were modest, Weaver’s debut season established him as a rotation prospect with a power curveball and feel for spin. His ability to miss bats in the minors drew national attention, and the Cardinals’ investment in him signaled long-term plans as part of their next wave of starting pitchers.
By 2017, Weaver had earned a more consistent role in the St. Louis rotation, showing the strike-throwing ability that had defined his college career. His late-season call-up that year allowed him to log 60-plus big-league innings and develop against National League Central opponents. The 2018 season tested his durability, and although the results were uneven, the experience helped lay the groundwork for his later transition to relief work.
Arizona Diamondbacks Era (2019–2022)
On December 5, 2018, the Cardinals traded Weaver, Carson Kelly, Andy Young, and a draft pick to the Arizona Diamondbacks as part of the package for star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. In his first season in the desert, Weaver produced a 2.94 ERA with 69 strikeouts in 64⅓ innings, even crushing his only major league home run on March 31, 2019, off Pedro Báez of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The shortened 2020 season was rough, as Weaver went 1–9 with a 6.58 ERA, leading the majors in losses. He missed time in 2021 with a right shoulder strain before returning to log a 4.25 ERA in 13 starts. The Diamondbacks converted him to a full-time relief role in 2022, but elbow inflammation limited him to a 7.71 ERA in 12 games before he was traded.
Kansas City Royals (2022)
On August 1, 2022, Arizona sent Weaver to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for infielder Emmanuel Rivera. He appeared in 14 games out of the Kansas City bullpen, posting a 5.59 ERA without a decision. The Royals kept him only briefly, as the Seattle Mariners claimed him off waivers in late October before non-tendering him in November and making him a free agent.
Cincinnati Reds (2023)
Weaver signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Cincinnati Reds on January 13, 2023, returning to a starting role. The experiment failed, as he posted a 6.87 ERA with 24 home runs allowed in 97 innings across 21 starts. Cincinnati designated him for assignment on August 16 and released him two days later, signaling a crossroads in his career.
Seattle Mariners (2023)
On August 22, 2023, Weaver signed a one-year major league deal with the Seattle Mariners, hoping to find a better fit. In five appearances, he logged a 6.08 ERA with eight strikeouts in 13⅓ innings. Seattle designated him for assignment on September 10, ending another short stint in his journeyman phase.
New York Yankees Era (2023–2025)
The New York Yankees claimed Weaver off waivers on September 12, 2023, and he rewarded them with a 3.38 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 13⅔ innings down the stretch. After reaching free agency, he returned to the Yankees on a one-year contract with a $2.5 million club option for 2025.
Beginning in September 2024, Weaver took over as the Yankees’ closer following inconsistencies from Clay Holmes, recording his first career save on September 6 against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. He converted all four September save chances with 25 strikeouts in 12 innings and finished the regular season with a 2.89 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 84 innings. In the postseason, Weaver saved all three wins of the American League Division Series against the Royals, then rebounded from a blown save in the AL Championship Series to help pitch the Yankees into the World Series. In 2025, he logged a 3.62 ERA with eight saves in 64 appearances before signing a two-year, $22 million contract with the New York Mets on December 22, 2025.
New York Mets Era (2026–Present)
On December 22, 2025, Weaver signed a two-year, $22 million contract with the New York Mets, stepping into a high-leverage relief role at Citi Field. The move reunited him with a National League contender and gave the Mets a proven late-inning arm coming off a World Series run. Early in 2026, he joined a bullpen charged with supporting a rotation aiming for another deep October push.
Driving Style and Strengths
Weaver’s game is built around swing-and-miss stuff, particularly a sharp curveball and a four-seam fastball that plays well in the upper third of the strike zone. After moving to the bullpen, his velocity ticked up and he leaned more heavily on a wipeout slider, allowing him to attack hitters in shorter stints. His willingness to embrace a relief role, combined with improved command, turned him from a back-of-the-rotation starter into a trusted closer.
Notable Events and Milestones
Highlights include his 2016 major league debut against the Cubs, his first career save on September 6, 2024, at Wrigley Field, and his dominant 2024 postseason that included three saves against the Royals and a signature scoreless appearance against the Cleveland Guardians in the ALCS. Since 2024, his Yankee Stadium entrance song has been “Dream Weaver” by Gary Wright, a nod to his surname that has become a fan favorite.
Luke Weaver Career Wins
Across his time in the majors, Luke Weaver has compiled a verified 40–50 win–loss record with 779 strikeouts and a 4.64 ERA through June 18, 2026. His win totals reflect both his years as a starting pitcher with the Cardinals and Diamondbacks and his later success in high-leverage relief roles with the Yankees and Mets.
Major League Highlights
Weaver’s most memorable victories include his 2016 debut start against the Cubs and his strong run as Yankees closer down the 2024 stretch, when he helped lock down a playoff berth. His first win as a starter came during his 2016 cup of coffee in St. Louis, and his most recent wins have come in relief appearances with the Mets in 2026. In the bullpen, his value is reflected less in traditional wins and more in saves and hold totals, where he has produced at a high level since 2024.
Other Performances
In the minors, Weaver earned Florida State recognition, was a Cape Cod League participant with the Brewster Whitecaps, and twice won Minor League Pitcher of the Year honors from the Cardinals organization in 2016. He also took home the Cardinals’ July Pitcher of the Month award in 2015 after a dominant stretch at Palm Beach.
Luke Weaver Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Luke Allen Weaver is married to Olivia Weaver. The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter, in October 2019. Weaver is known to be a Christian, and faith has been a consistent theme in his public comments throughout his career.
Personal Life
Married to Olivia Weaver and the father of a young daughter, Weaver has spoken about the grounding influence of family during the turbulence of frequent team changes. The stability of his home life has coincided with the most consistent stretch of his big-league career, particularly during his 2024 closer run with the Yankees. Off the field, he maintains an active presence on social media, where fans follow his updates under the handle @dreamweava7.
2025 Season Performance
In 2025, Luke Weaver opened the year as the New York Yankees’ closer before a hamstring injury suffered while warming up on June 1, 2025, sent him to the injured list. Despite the setback, he produced a 3.62 ERA with 72 strikeouts and eight saves across 64 appearances, anchoring the back end of a bullpen that helped carry New York into the postseason. His October résumé, including saves against the Royals and key outs versus the Guardians, cemented his reputation as a trusted late-inning arm.
Following the season, the Yankees declined to bring him back as their primary closer, partly because of the offseason acquisition of Devin Williams. Weaver instead reached free agency and signed a two-year, $22 million contract with the New York Mets on December 22, 2025, choosing a multi-year deal and a new National League home. The contract, which runs through the 2026 and 2027 seasons, marks the longest commitment of his career and reflects how dramatically his stock has risen since 2024.
