Luke Weaver earned his first career save in the Yankees’ 3-0 victory over the Cubs on Friday, igniting calls from fans to make him the team’s official closer.
Luke Weaver saves Yankees’ win, fans call for promotion to closer role
The Yankees have struggled with the closer role all season, with Clay Holmes’ inconsistency leading to frustration. Holmes has blown 11 saves this season, and manager Aaron Boone recently hinted at a potential shift in strategy for the position.
After Clay Holmes lost the closer role, the Yankees adopted a bullpen-by-committee approach. Weaver, who has primarily been a starter throughout his nine-year career, found himself thrust into the spotlight. The decision to bring him in for the ninth inning at Wrigley Field came as Tommy Kahnle wrapped up the eighth. Despite the nerves that come with closing for the first time, Weaver managed to secure the win.
As Luke Weaver warmed up, the pressure was palpable. Reflecting on his debut, which also happened in Chicago back in 2016, he noted how surreal the moment felt. “I couldn’t see straight. I was blacked out for the most part,” Weaver said, referencing the adrenaline surge he experienced.
In the ninth inning, Luke Weaver faced some of the Cubs’ toughest hitters. He struck out Michael Busch and Seiya Suzuki but faltered slightly when Cody Bellinger drew a walk after falling behind 0-2. An 11-pitch battle with Isaac Paredes finally ended with a game-sealing groundout.
Though the outing wasn’t flawless, Luke Weaver’s composure impressed fans, who immediately took to social media, particularly X (formerly Twitter), to call for Luke Weaver to be made the official closer for the postseason. This came after Boone mentioned that the team would reassess its bullpen structure.
For Luke Weaver, the opportunity was both thrilling and nerve-wracking. After years of struggling as a starter, the possibility of transitioning into a full-time reliever—especially a closer—was an exciting prospect. “When you’re in the bullpen, you want to do the best you can to just get outs, keep runs off the board,” Weaver said. “But this is the premier role, and it’s a really cool feeling.”
Though closing is a new experience for Luke Weaver, his performance Friday suggests he may be up for the challenge. Whether the Yankees will promote him to the closer role remains to be seen, but the fanbase is certainly pushing for it.
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