New York Yankee’s closer Clay Holmes was struggling, and Aaron Boone had to make a call. When Holmes blew a save on Sept. 3—that was it; Boone needed to be ‘creative’, which is what he said when choosing someone. Although he never officially announced it, Boone chose Luke Weaver. This decision left many scratching their heads, mostly because Weaver’s journey hadn’t been seamless.

But Boone was going with his instinct—and it seems he has a pretty good hold over his gut feel. Luke Weaver ended up becoming a star ninth-inning specialist three days later. He grabbed his first career save with a clutch, scoreless ninth at Wrigley Field. He has also been a monumental force for the New York Yankees. It’s tough to imagine, but the journey so far hasn’t been easy; in fact, Weaver even rethought his entire ‘pitching’ career.

Luke Weaver went from doubt to dominance 

Last season, things looked more than bleak for Luke Weaver. He posted just a mere 6.87 ERA over 21 starts for the Cincinnati Reds. At this point, he started questioning whether pitching was even for him anymore. then, Luke reached New York in September 2023 as a waiver claim. He careers a 5.18 ERA across eight seasons with five different teams. Weaver later recalled, “I’m thinking, ‘Is this something I want to do? And there was just absolutely no way in my core that’s allowed.”

Fast forward a year, after signing a one-year $2 million deal—a lot had changed – Weaver became the first New York Yankee pitcher, since Aroldis Chapman in 2017, to record five-out saves in the postseason. He even earned his place as the first pitcher since Neftali Feliz to lock down the team’s first four post-season wins. Luke Weaver went from feeling helpless to becoming a force for the Yankees, and now, 15 years later, the team is going to their first World Series, with him playing a major role.

How Weaver’s backyard ballpark shaped a Yankees star

Before Luke Weaver became the first-round MLB pick or the star reliever for the New York Yankees, he was just a kid honing his skills in Central Florida. Growing up as a shortstop, he spent hours practicing with his young brother Jake in their backyard. They had a one-acre baseball arena, which their dad., Mark, had very lovingly built for them at their family home in DeLand, transforming the area into a mini-ballpark. It had an L-screen, pitching machines, and even lights for playing at night, soon becoming a neighborhood sensation!

Teammates and families would gather to watch their kids play there. The sound of bats echoed in the air as most families enjoyed the games, sitting on the benches and munching snacks. Senior Weaver didn’t play beyond high school, but he poured his wallet and his heart into building the ballpark for his son. Luke credits all those long days playing in the cage to be the reason for his determination and grit, and no wonder, even after such a topsy-turvy time, he has come out strong. However, Weaver has one message about his son: “He gets super competitive. And he does; he gets ferocious. He’s a really nice guy and kind of soft-spoken at times. But I wouldn’t cross him.”

Now, only time will tell if Luke’s postseason performance can be at his best. What’s your take on Luke Weaver’s journey to the World Series? Share in the comments below.