This week in Catching up with the Bucks we are taking a look back at Brett Weber. Weber pitched for the Bucks in the 1996 and 1997 seasons. Weber is a graduate from the University of Illinois and is from Glenview, IL.
Brett Weber appeared in 14 games for the Bucks over the two seasons, starting in 11 of them. The righty was certainly impressive in those starts, going 7-4 with a 2.96 ERA, including two complete games. In that time he threw a total of 82 innings and gave up no home runs. He had 91 strikeouts compared to just 28 walks, good for a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.25.
Weber was also an excellent starting pitcher for Illinois, getting the All-Star starting pitcher role for the Big Ten twice as well as winning Conference Pitcher of the Year in 1998.
After his time with the Bucks and at Illinois, Weber was drafted by New York Yankees in the 14th round. Weber started in his career in A- Onenonta. He had a great start to his career here, throwing 68 innings and putting up a 3.04 ERA, including 68 strikeouts. The next year Weber moved up into A ball at Greensboro where he was even more dominant, throwing for an ERA of 1.97 in 73 innings. His dominant strikeout totals were still there also as he threw 83 of them.
In 2000, the former Buck played in the Rookie League, single A, and A+ for the Yankees. He struggled somewhat in A+ Tampa as he had a 5.87 ERA, but at both his previous stops, he had an ERA under 3. After the season, Weber stepped away for a few years before coming back and playing in the independent Northern League for the Schaumburg Flyers. Over those two seasons, Weber put up an ERA of 2.39 in 94 innings of relief work. He also threw 95 strikeouts compared to just 37 walks.
After his playing days, Weber stayed in baseball and currently works as the Baseball Operations Assistant for the New York Yankees. We wish him the best in all that he does and will always remember him as a great Waterloo Buck.
