Ryan Weathers

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #6 prospect in 2021
  Fastball: 60. Slider: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: The Padres went above industry consensus to draft Weathers seventh overall in 2018. He battled arm fatigue and conditioning issues in his first full season, but he rewarded the Padres in 2020. Weathers arrived at summer camp throwing 4-5 mph harder and impressed all summer at the alternate training site. The Padres put him on their National League Division Series roster despite the fact he had never pitched above low Class A, and he became the second pitcher ever to make his big league debut in the postseason.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Weathers is the son of former reliever David Weathers and shows the polish often seen in big league progeny. He shows an advanced feel for sequencing, is rarely fazed by pressure situations and calmly locates his entire arsenal to both sides of the plate. After previously sitting 88-92 mph, Weathers’ fastball jumped to 92-95 over longer stints and 95-97 in short bursts with carry through the strike zone in 2020. His slider also became a tighter, harder pitch in the mid 80s and his changeup with heavy fade remains potentially above-average, though he’s sometimes too firm with it. Weathers has a portly, heavyset frame, but he’s deceptively athletic and repeats his delivery for plus control.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Padres internally compare Weathers to Hyun-Jin Ryu as a hefty lefthander who effectively locates his entire arsenal. He still has to show he can hold his improved stuff over a full season and will begin 2021 back in the minors.
• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #10 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Weathers is the son of longtime big league reliever David Weathers and led Loretto (Tenn.) High to state championship games in both basketball and baseball as a senior. The Padres drafted him seventh overall in 2018 and signed him for $5.23 million. Weathers started his first full season strong at low Class A Fort Wayne, but he went on the injured list for arm fatigue in mid-May and didn't have the same stuff when he returned.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: At his best, Weathers demonstrates an advanced feel for pitching with a three-pitch mix. He pounds the lower third of the strike zone with a 90-93 mph fastball to both sides of the plate and keeps hitters off balance with a potentially plus mid-80s changeup with heavy fade. His low-80s slider flashes average with good shape and break, and he ties it all together with plus control and an advanced feel for sequencing. Weathers' fastball often sat 87-89 mph after his injured list stint, however, and his conditioning became a concern after he gained 20 pounds.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Padres openly acknowledge Weathers needs to get in better shape to reach his mid-rotation ceiling. They have challenged him to do so in 2020.
• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #13 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Weathers is the son of 19-year big league pitcher David Weathers, and he led Loretto (Tenn.) HS to its first state championship in basketball as a senior. When he held 90s velocity into the ninth inning of the Tennessee Class A state championship baseball game, the Padres decided he was their man. They drafted Weathers seventh overall and signed him for $5,226,500 to pass up Vanderbilt. Weathers moved quickly, making three starts at low Class A just three months out of high school.
  
  Scouting Report: Weathers impresses more with his poise and feel than any one offering. He pitches inside with a 90-94 mph four-seam fastball and outside with a 90-93 mph two-seamer, mixing them equally and working both sides of the plate. His mid-70s curveball lands for strikes as an average to above-average pitch, and his changeup flashes plus with heavy fade and mirrors his two-seamer. Weathers works quickly, throws strikes with above-average control and stays poised when things don't go his way, showing impressive maturity for a teen.
  
  The Future: The Padres think Weathers has the intangibles to move fast despite being a high school pick. He'll see high Class A Lake Elsinore in 2019.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #16 prospect in 2018 draft
  The son of 19-year major league veteran David Weathers, Ryan is an advanced lefthanded pitcher out of Tennessee who offers a high floor for a prep arm. Weathers has three pitches that are at least average with a fastball, curveball and changeup. Scouts had to wait for a chance to see him this spring as Weathers is also a high-level basketball player and helped lead Lorretto High to its first ever state championship this season. When he did take the mound, Weathers pitched with a low-90s fastball that got up to 95 mph at its best with a curveball that appeared to be a tick better than it was last summer. Some scouts have put a 60-grade on the mid-70s breaking ball this spring after it was more 50-55 during the showcase circuit and with USA Baseball's 18U team. He can also turn to an average changeup when he needs it as well. Weathers spots all of his pitches effectively--some evaluators believe he can develop future plus command--and his fastball plays up with heavy sinking action as well. With major league bloodlines and a well-rounded arsenal, Weathers figures to be a middle of the first-round pick, though he'll need to maintain his body as he develops.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Midwest League #16 prospect in 2019
  In his second season with the Padres' farm system, Weathers faced the injured list for the first time in his career and the starts that followed appeared to show some lingering discomfort. Regardless, the projection of Weathers, who is still just 19 years old, hasn’t appeared to be dampened in the eyes of evaluators. "We saw him the very first game of the year, but he impressed me,” Lansing manager Dallas McPherson said. "He really impressed me. We only saw him once, but he was really good that day.” Starting with a fastball that touches 95 mph, Weathers complements the pitch well with an above-average curveball and changeup. Outside of the natural feel, Weathers can get scattered at times and struggles to locate consistently. With his bulldog reputation of attacking the zone, Weathers hasn’t come off-track, despite some consistency struggles this season.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #84 prospect in 2021

• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 60. Slider: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: The Padres went above industry consensus to draft Weathers seventh overall in 2018. He battled arm fatigue and conditioning issues in his first full season, but he rewarded the Padres in 2020. Weathers arrived at summer camp throwing 4-5 mph harder and impressed all summer at the alternate training site. The Padres put him on their National League Division Series roster despite the fact he had never pitched above low Class A, and he became the second pitcher ever to make his big league debut in the postseason.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Weathers is the son of former reliever David Weathers and shows the polish often seen in big league progeny. He shows an advanced feel for sequencing, is rarely fazed by pressure situations and calmly locates his entire arsenal to both sides of the plate. After previously sitting 88-92 mph, Weathers’ fastball jumped to 92-95 over longer stints and 95-97 in short bursts with carry through the strike zone in 2020. His slider also became a tighter, harder pitch in the mid 80s and his changeup with heavy fade remains potentially above-average, though he’s sometimes too firm with it. Weathers has a portly, heavyset frame, but he’s deceptively athletic and repeats his delivery for plus control.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Padres internally compare Weathers to Hyun-Jin Ryu as a hefty lefthander who effectively locates his entire arsenal. He still has to show he can hold his improved stuff over a full season and will begin 2021 back in the minors.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 60. Slider: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: The Padres went above industry consensus to draft Weathers seventh overall in 2018. He battled arm fatigue and conditioning issues in his first full season, but he rewarded the Padres in 2020. Weathers arrived at summer camp throwing 4-5 mph harder and impressed all summer at the alternate training site. The Padres put him on their National League Division Series roster despite the fact he had never pitched above low Class A, and he became the second pitcher ever to make his big league debut in the postseason.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Weathers is the son of former reliever David Weathers and shows the polish often seen in big league progeny. He shows an advanced feel for sequencing, is rarely fazed by pressure situations and calmly locates his entire arsenal to both sides of the plate. After previously sitting 88-92 mph, Weathers’ fastball jumped to 92-95 over longer stints and 95-97 in short bursts with carry through the strike zone in 2020. His slider also became a tighter, harder pitch in the mid 80s and his changeup with heavy fade remains potentially above-average, though he’s sometimes too firm with it. Weathers has a portly, heavyset frame, but he’s deceptively athletic and repeats his delivery for plus control.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Padres internally compare Weathers to Hyun-Jin Ryu as a hefty lefthander who effectively locates his entire arsenal. He still has to show he can hold his improved stuff over a full season and will begin 2021 back in the minors.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Weathers is the son of longtime big league reliever David Weathers and led Loretto (Tenn.) High to the state championship game in both basketball and baseball as a senior. The Padres drafted him seventh overall in 2018 and signed him for $5.23 million. Weathers started his first full season strong at low Class A Fort Wayne, but he went on the injured list for arm fatigue in mid-May and didn’t have the same stuff when he returned.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: At his best, Weathers demonstrates an advanced feel for pitching with a three-pitch mix. He pounds the lower third of the strike zone with a 90-93 mph fastball to both sides of the plate and keeps hitters off balance with a potential plus mid-80s changeup with heavy fade. His low-80s slider flashes average with good shape and break, and he ties it all together with plus control and an advanced feel for sequencing. Weathers’ fastball often sat 87-89 mph after his injured list stint, however, and his conditioning became a concern after he gained 20 pounds.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Padres freely acknowledge Weathers needs to get in better shape to reach his midrotation ceiling. They have challenged him to do so in 2020.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Weathers is the son of longtime big league reliever David Weathers and led Loretto (Tenn.) High to state championship games in both basketball and baseball as a senior. The Padres drafted him seventh overall in 2018 and signed him for $5.23 million. Weathers started his first full season strong at low Class A Fort Wayne, but he went on the injured list for arm fatigue in mid-May and didn't have the same stuff when he returned.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: At his best, Weathers demonstrates an advanced feel for pitching with a three-pitch mix. He pounds the lower third of the strike zone with a 90-93 mph fastball to both sides of the plate and keeps hitters off balance with a potentially plus mid-80s changeup with heavy fade. His low-80s slider flashes average with good shape and break, and he ties it all together with plus control and an advanced feel for sequencing. Weathers' fastball often sat 87-89 mph after his injured list stint, however, and his conditioning became a concern after he gained 20 pounds.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Padres openly acknowledge Weathers needs to get in better shape to reach his mid-rotation ceiling. They have challenged him to do so in 2020.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  In his second season with the Padres' farm system, Weathers faced the injured list for the first time in his career and the starts that followed appeared to show some lingering discomfort. Regardless, the projection of Weathers, who is still just 19 years old, hasn’t appeared to be dampened in the eyes of evaluators. "We saw him the very first game of the year, but he impressed me,” Lansing manager Dallas McPherson said. "He really impressed me. We only saw him once, but he was really good that day.” Starting with a fastball that touches 95 mph, Weathers complements the pitch well with an above-average curveball and changeup. Outside of the natural feel, Weathers can get scattered at times and struggles to locate consistently. With his bulldog reputation of attacking the zone, Weathers hasn’t come off-track, despite some consistency struggles this season.