Seattle Mariners Sign Former 1st-Round Pick Starting Pitcher

The Seattle Mariners have officially signed Luke Weaver, a right-handed starting pitcher, following his release from the Cincinnati Reds.

Weaver, who recently turned 30, faced challenges during the 2023 season with the Reds, marked by a high ERA of 6.87 over 97 innings pitched.

Um. Luke Weaver just struck out five batters in two innings of work without allowing a baserunner. Owned a 6.87 ERA coming into today. Chills

— Ben Ranieri (@BenRanieri10) August 23, 2023

His struggles were evident upon returning from injury, with a career-worst 19% strikeout rate indicating diminished effectiveness.

Weaver's career statistics include a 5.16 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 547 strikeouts in 547.2 innings pitched, and 136 appearances.

Luke Weaver's 5Ks in 2 IP. pic.twitter.com/4l9YkqGksH

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 23, 2023

Notably, he was a former first-round pick by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2014 MLB Draft.

With this signing, the Mariners are taking a calculated risk, hoping to revitalize Weaver's performance and contribute positively to their pitching lineup.

He had a fantastic first showing with his new club, racking up five strikeouts across two innings. Photo Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports