Jeff Weaver is a former professional baseball player who played as a pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) for over a decade. He was born on August 22, 1976, in Northridge, California, and attended Simi Valley High School. Weaver was a standout player in high school and was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the first round of the 1998 MLB draft.
Weaver made his MLB debut with the Tigers in 1999 and played for them until 2002. He then played for the New York Yankees in 2002 and the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2004. Weaver's best season came in 2002 when he won 11 games for the Tigers and had a 3.52 earned run average (ERA). He also struck out 144 batters in 200 innings pitched.
In 2003, Weaver struggled with the Tigers and was traded to the Yankees mid-season. He pitched in relief for the Yankees and helped them reach the World Series, where they lost to the Florida Marlins. Weaver was then traded to the Dodgers in 2004, where he had a solid season, winning 14 games and posting a 4.22 ERA.
Weaver's career took a downturn in 2005 when he struggled with the Dodgers and was traded to the Angels mid-season. He had a bounce-back season with the Angels in 2006, winning 11 games and posting a 3.91 ERA. He also helped the Angels win the American League West division title.
Weaver played for the Seattle Mariners in 2007 and the Milwaukee Brewers in 2009 before returning to the Dodgers in 2010. He retired from baseball after the 2010 season with a career record of 104-119 and a 4.71 ERA. Weaver struck out 1,214 batters in 1,621 innings pitched over his career.
Despite his up-and-down career, Weaver was known for his durability and ability to eat innings as a starting pitcher. He also had a reputation for being a fierce competitor on the mound. Weaver's best moments in baseball came in the postseason, where he helped the Yankees reach the World Series in 2003 and the Angels win the AL West in 2006.
Overall, Jeff Weaver had a solid career as a starting pitcher in MLB. While he never became a superstar, he was a reliable pitcher who could be counted on to take the ball every fifth day. His postseason success and competitive spirit will be remembered by fans of the teams he played for.
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