Luke Weaver (baseball)

Luke Weaver
St. Louis Cardinals – No. 7
Pitcher
Born: (1993-08-21) August 21, 1993
DeLand, Florida
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 13, 2016, for the St. Louis Cardinals
MLB statistics
(through September 15, 2018)
Win–loss record 15–17
Earned run average 4.79
Strikeouts 238
Teams

Luke Allen Weaver (born August 21, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Cardinals selected him in the first round of the 2014 Major League Baseball Draft from Florida State University (FSU), where he played college baseball for the Seminoles. He made his MLB debut on August 13, 2016.

Early life

Weaver grew up a fan of the Tampa Bay Rays.[1] He graduated from DeLand High School in 2011.[2] He was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 19th round of the 2011 MLB Draft, but did not sign and chose to attend and play baseball at Florida State University.

Amateur career

Weaver pitching for the Florida State Seminoles in 2014

Weaver played college baseball at Florida State University from 2012 to 2014, pitching for the Seminoles.[3][4][5] As a sophomore in 2013 he was 7-2 with a 2.29 ERA in 17 games (15 starts), and in 2014, as a junior, he was 8-4 with a 2.62 ERA in 16 starts.[6]

Professional career

The St. Louis Cardinals selected Weaver in the first round of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft.[7][8] He signed with the Cardinals on June 16[9] and made his professional debut for the GCL Cardinals. He was promoted to the Palm Beach Cardinals on August 1. In six starts between the two teams, he was 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA and 2.04 WHIP.

Weaver spent 2015 with Palm Beach. He earned the Cardinals July Pitcher of the Month Award after compiling a 3–1 record and an 0.94 ERA in ​28 1⁄3 innings pitched (IP) in five starts. He also struck out 27 and walked only two during the month.[10] Baseball America selected Weaver for the high Class-A minor leagues All-Star team for the 2015 season,[11] In 19 total starts for Palm Beach in 2015, he pitched to an 8-5 record and 1.62 ERA.

Baseball America ranked Weaver as the Cardinals' fourth-best prospect prior to the 2016 season.[12] He did not make his 2016 debut until June 4 for the Springfield Cardinals due to sitting out the first part of the season due to a fractured left wrist sustained while running down fly balls during batting practice in spring training. In their updated mid-season ranking, Baseball America rated Weaver in the top-100 for the first time, at 75th.[13] After posting a 1.40 ERA with 88 strikeouts in 77 innings pitched with Springfield, the Cardinals promoted Weaver to the Memphis Redbirds on August 3.

On August 13, 2016, the Cardinals recalled Weaver from Memphis to make his major league debut and start in place of injured starter Michael Wacha against the Chicago Cubs.[14] He struck out his first major league opponent, Dexter Fowler. Weaver totaled four innings, two runs, four hits, three walks and three strikeouts while not receiving a decision in an eventual 8−4 win.[15] Weaver spent the remainder of the season with St. Louis. After the season, MLB Pipeline named him the Cardinals 2016 Minor League Pitcher of the Year due to his success with the Springfield Cardinals, where he posted a 6-3 record and 1.40 ERA with 88 strikeouts in 77 innings pitched.[16] The Cardinals also named Weaver their 2016 Minor League Pitcher of the Year. In nine games (eight starts) for St. Louis, he pitched to a 1-4 record and 5.70 ERA.

Weaver began his 2017 season back in Memphis, where he earned the title of Pacific Coast League Player of the Month after posting a 2.19 ERA in 37 innings for the month of May. He was recalled and optioned multiple times during the season before he was recalled for the remainder of the season on August 17. In 15 starts for Memphis, Weaver compiled a 10-2 record and 2.55 ERA and in 13 games (ten starts) for the Cardinals he pitched to a 7-2 record and 3.88 ERA.[17]

Weaver began 2018 with St. Louis as a member of their starting rotation, but was moved to the bullpen in mid-August after compiling a 6-11 record with a 4.67 ERA in 24 starts.[18] He finished the 2018 season with a 7-11 record, a 4.95 ERA, and a 1.50 WHIP in thirty games (25 starts).[19]

References

  1. ↑ https://www.lockedonstlcardinals.com/stl-cardinals/todays-cardinals-were-yesterdays-fans-and-they-had-players-they-disliked-too/
  2. ↑ http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20140618/former-deland-pitcher-luke-weaver-signs-18-million-deal-with-st-louis-cardinals
  3. ↑ "Florida State pitcher Luke Weaver continues to shine in ace role". Orlando Sentinel.
  4. ↑ "DeLand High product Luke Weaver finds his pitch with Florida State". The Daytona Beach News-Journal.
  5. ↑ "FSU's Weaver eyes MLB Draft". Tallahassee Democrat. 4 June 2014.
  6. ↑ "Former DeLand pitcher Luke Weaver signs $1.8 million deal with St. Louis Cardinals". The Daytona Beach News-Journal. 18 June 2014.
  7. ↑ "St. Louis Cardinals draft Florida State's Luke Weaver No. 27 overall". Tallahassee Democrat. June 5, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Cards draft FSU righty Weaver with first pick". St. Louis Cardinals.
  9. ↑ "First-round Draft pick Luke Weaver signs with Cardinals". St. Louis Cardinals.
  10. ↑ FOX Sports Midwest (August 3, 2015). "Cardinals minor leaguers Anthony Garcia, Luke Weaver earn July honors". Fox Sports Midwest. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  11. ↑ "2015 Minor League Classification All-Star Teams". Baseball America. September 11, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  12. ↑ Manuel, John (November 16, 2015). "St. Louis Cardinals top 10 prospects". Baseball America. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  13. ↑ Staff Report (July 8, 2016). "Midseason top 100 prospects". Baseball America. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Lyons to 60-day DL, out for regular season". MLB.com. August 12, 2016.
  15. ↑ Muskrat, Carrie; Langosch, Jenifer (August 13, 2016). "Cards find wild way to slam door on Cubs' streak". MLB.com. Retrieved August 13, 2016.
  16. ↑ http://m.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article/205516316/cardinals-prospects-of-the-year-bader-weaver/
  17. ↑ "Luke Weaver Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  18. ↑ https://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/shildt-moving-weaver---to-bullpen-not-an-easy/article_b17b8fe2-4b12-579b-9f35-9cb79d4fd281.html
  19. ↑ https://www.kmov.com/sports/st-louis-cardinals-player-grades-starting-pitchers/article_6792cc3a-c694-11e8-b173-8faee838cf63.html
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