Yankees pitcher raced 180 miles to make son’s birth with minutes to spare

No, Weathers said with a laugh, he doesn’t know yet whether little Paul is left-handed like his dad, or a righty like his grandfather, former Yankees reliever David Weathers.

Leaving his wife and new son to travel to Houston on Friday night was tough, but Weathers had to go. His paternity leave was up and he was the Yankees’ scheduled starter on Saturday night.

“I didn’t want to leave,” he said.

With a couple exceptions, Weathers has been very good early into his first season with the Yankees and the 26-year-old lefty looked like a rising star again before leaving a 2-2 game in the sixth inning.

“Son is doing great, mom’s doing great, so it was fun just to play baseball and get that back out there,” said Weathers, whose 3.21 ERA is 17th best among qualifying American League starters.

Weathers would have loved to be the pitcher of record, but he contributed to the Yankees extending their winning streak to eight games.

“It’s so good to have him back from paternity leave,” manager Aaron Boone said of Weathers. “He was able to do what he needed to do between starts to be ready, and I thought he threw the ball really well.”

Weathers had a good outing against the only team in the American League that has scored more runs than the Yankees. He studied up on the Astros, whose lineup includes stars Yordan Alvarez and Jose Altuve, then he held them down until the Yankees offense took the game over.

“It’s still my job,” Weathers said. “I still have to perform. My job is to go there and throw up zeros and try to help this ballclub win games.”

His teammates were thrilled that Weathers put a bow put a bow on a week that brought him the best present he’s ever received.

“We were all really happy for (Weathers),” first baseman Ben Rice said after going 3-for-4 with a double and a sacrifice fly. “It was good to see him get to the field, obviously welcoming in a new son. We’re super happy for him to have a good outing as well.”

The Yankees are a close-knit team. They’re each other’s second family. But their first family comes first. While Rice was talking about Weathers at his locker, third baseman Ryan McMahon was three feet away to the left talking on the phone with his two-year-old girl, Austyn.

“Would you end your interview so I can say goodnight to my daughter?” McMahon yelled to Rice with a smile.

Weathers already can’t wait for this long roadtrip to end so that he can get back home to see his baby boy. The Yankees play the Astros again on Sunday, then head to Arlington, Texas, for games against the Rangers on Monday night, Tuesday night and Wednesday afternoon.

By late Wednesday night, Weathers will be back in Greenwich cradling his son again.

“I want him to stay that little forever,” he said.

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