San Diego Padres: Ryan Weathers Promoted, Makes Fort Wayne Debut

This year’s first-round draft pick of the San Diego Padres made his full-season debut on Tuesday night.

In any other organization, seeing a teenager in full-season ball is a rarity, however, in the San Diego Padres organization, it’s just how things are done. Before their game on Tuesday evening, the Fort Wayne TinCaps received another teenage prospect to add to their roster, 2018 first-round draft pick Ryan Weathers.

Weathers made three starts in the rookie-level Arizona League, giving up four earned runs on eight hits in 7.1 innings. He walked three and struck out eight, including a four-strikeout performance in his second start, back on August 5th.

His promotion came from a need to replace starting pitcher Osvaldo Hernandez, who was placed on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation. Hernandez has had a fantastic season with the TinCaps, posting an 11-4 record with a 1.81 earned run average. He has 94 strikeouts in 109 innings, surrendering just three home runs in the process. The 20-year-old left-hander out of Cuba has quickly made a name for himself within this loaded farm system.

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Weathers needed 68 pitches (47 strikes) to work through 3.1 innings in his Fort Wayne debut as the TinCaps fell to the Great Lakes Loons, 6-3.

The LHP prospect surrendered two earned runs (five total runs) on six hits, while striking out four and issuing zero free passes. Weathers received no help from his defense who committed three errors on the including, including two from second baseman Olivier Basabe.

For Padres fans near Fort Wayne, Indiana, there aren’t many more chances to catch the TinCaps at home but I would make every attempt possible to catch a game. Fort Wayne now features Weathers, last year’s first-round pick MacKenzie Gore, and this year’s prospect sensation, Luis Patino. Fans should also not ignore Mason Thompson, who is having a respectable season in full-season ball (87 strikeouts in 85 innings). Not to mention, fellow teenage sensations Jeisson Rosario, Gabriel Arias, and Esteury Ruiz help fill out the batting order.

Weathers may log a few more innings but don’t expect too many more, as the minor league season winds down. Coming off a full season of high school ball and minor bangs and bruises since joining the Padres organization, there is zero reason to overwork the 18-year-old.