The KC Royals' departure could continue to cause problems for the ALDS team

When New York Yankees reliever Tommy Kahnle issued a two-out walk against Garrett Hampson in the eighth inning of the opening game of the American League Division Series on Saturday night, it appeared all was not lost for the Kansas City Royals. With the Yankees leading 6-5 after a controversial seventh inning, the walk created a potential tie on base with ninth-place batter Maikel Garcia, who had singled in the fourth inning.

Enter former Royal Luke Weaver.

Weaver, a well-traveled reliever who suddenly found success in the bullpen of the greatest franchise in baseball history, ended the threat on base and ultimately the game. Garcia hit the third four-seater offered by Weaver with a swing, after which Weaver retired Michael Massey, Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino to secure – Massey and Witt Jr. on strike – the Yankees' 6-5 victory and putt Royals lost 0-1 in this best-of-five series.

Having Weaver compete so well against them at such an important moment was something the Royals probably didn't expect when they released him from the organization two years ago. Now he could be a force they need to plan for.

The KC Royals are letting Luke Weaver move after the 2022 season

When Kansas City decided Weaver was expendable and placed him on waivers less than a month after the end of the 2022 campaign, the time and circumstances were much different than today.

At the time, the Royals were in dire need of pitching as they struggled through the ultimately predictable 65-97 opener of last year's terrible 106-loss season, and so Kansas City dealt promising infielder Emmanuel Rivera to the Arizona Diamondbacks at the 2022 trade deadline Trade for Weaver. Despite throwing up 14 runs in 16.1 innings in Arizona, things improved for the pitcher in Kansas City – but not by much. Weaver threw 14 pitches for the Royals and gave up 15 runs (three unearned) in 19.1 innings. After the end of the season he was finally granted an exemption.

Weaver was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Mariners, ending his short tenure in Kansas City, but in a strange turn of events, the Mariners let him go less than a month later. The Cincinnati Reds acquired Weaver but released him during the 2023 season, after which the Mariners re-signed him. Three weeks later, Seattle designated Weaver for assignment, and then he was traded to the Yankees, who claimed him off waivers.

After signing a one-year deal with New York, Weaver began this season with a 27-42 major league record over eight years and stints of varying lengths with the St. Louis Cardinals, Diamondbacks, Royals, Reds and Mariners. But given what he's done for New York this year, he might stay in the Bronx.

Saturday's win over KC is just part of Luke Weaver's recent success

Considering the standards he set in his short time with the Yankees, the Royals shouldn't be surprised at how Weaver dominated them in Game 1. He entered September with a 3.31 ERA, a 4-3 record and 21 holds in 53 appearances under manager Aaron Boone's bullpen. Then, after a 3-0, 1.50 ERA in September that included his first four big league saves, his new status as New York's bottom hitter became clear.

That's why Boone chose Weaver when he needed someone to quell Kansas City's burgeoning threat in the eighth inning on Saturday, and it's why he stuck with him in the ninth inning. And given the way he shut down his former team, Weaver could be a force the Royals have to reckon with before this Division Series ends.

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