The long, winding road that led Luke Weaver to the Yankees' closer role

The reliever, who will be tasked with getting some of the biggest outings of the playoffs for the Yankees, was merely a waiver claim while eating innings last September.

In January he was a $2 million flyer re-signed for starting depth, and in March he was on the Opening Day roster as a long man.

But now, in October, Luke Weaver has emerged as the biggest weapon in the Yankees' bullpen, one who has effectively taken over the closer's job and will remain there in the postseason unless they need him, given the game ahead is at stake in the ninth inning.

“I know I surprised the world a little bit, but I feel like this game is tough,” Weaver said Tuesday before a practice at Yankee Stadium ahead of the ALDS, which begins Saturday. “This game brings a lot of success and a lot of failure. In my opinion, failure definitely filled a lot of chapters. But there was a good reason.

“It prepared me for this moment, playing in a city like this with a team as good as them and hopefully playing a key role here. “I definitely had confidence, but it was a long time coming let.”

Ten years removed from being a first-round pick by the Cardinals out of Florida State, the 31-year-old Weaver has now found his niche.

He finished the regular season with a 2.89 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 84 innings.

For a bullpen that lost Michael King in the Juan Soto trade last offseason, Weaver is the closest thing to King the Yankees have had this season, an arm that could go multiple innings and eventually close out games as soon as manager Aaron Boone Clay Holmes removed from final assignments in the first week of September.

After successfully capitalizing on his first career save opportunity on September 6 at Wrigley Field, Weaver finished the year without allowing an earned run in eight appearances and 11 innings, while recording 24 strikeouts and walking three, with four Parades.

“He's a better pitcher than he's probably ever been in his life, and that's a credit to him for some of the adjustments he's made and the way he's embraced going to the bullpen,” Boone said on Tuesday. “But he had an outstanding season.

Whatever role I gave him, he developed well. Like many of our boys, he enjoys competition and action. We’re in the process of getting involved with some.”

To get to this point, Weaver transformed into a pitcher.

During the winter, he had what he described as an “offseason stumble” when he changed his delivery and eliminated his leg kick for more of a sliding step.

The early returns in spring training weren't so great that Boone wondered if it would actually work out before the right-hander finished camp strong and earned a spot on the roster.

In the long term, the mechanical optimization has allowed him to recover better and led to the healthiest season of his career.

Weaver also changed the grip on his four-seam fastball, which gave the pitch a little more life – it averaged 95.7 mph this season compared to 94 mph last year.

This resulted in more swing-and-misses and fewer fouled throws, allowing him to be more efficient. This is a big reason for his whiff percentage of 33.5 percent, much higher than his career rate of 24.3 percent.

Weaver's athleticism has helped him find his way on the mound, but the mental scars he suffered from struggles early in his career have also helped him.

“Mental toughness is innate, my friend,” Weaver said. “You often get kicked in the teeth and have to get back up. You have to go home, you have to face your family, you have to be a father, you have to be a husband, you have to be a friend – all these things. Going to the park every day when you are unsuccessful is one of the most difficult tasks.”

Weaver hasn't had many of those days this year and he said he took a few moments during the season to appreciate what he does.

But now comes the ultimate test: the postseason, where Weaver will be called for outs while the season hangs in the balance.

“I hope I don’t do the blackout I mentioned,” Weaver said, referring to his first save against the Cubs. “But I know my heart will beat faster. It will be inevitable. … At the end of the day, I pray it goes well, but I have to trust what I'm doing out there and hopefully the outcome is in my favor.”