The upcoming MLB draft, moreso that recent past drafts, is stacked with premier high school talent. The 2018 draft class features a wealth of 18-year-olds ready to make the leap to professional baseball. Many will find themselves on a Major League field sooner rather than later, but few have family who can already tell them how that feels.
Ryan Weathers 2018 MLB Draft Profile
Ryan Weathers is one of those few. Weathers is the son of former big league pitcher David Weathers, and thus brings MLB pedigree to the draft process. Weathers is built like a professional pitcher, standing at 6’2” and weighing in at 225 lbs. A star on the mound for Loretto High School in Loretto, Tennesee, Weathers earned 2018 Rawlings-Perfect Game 1st Team All-American honors. He’s a verbal commit to the Vanderbilt Baseball Factory, but could be selected in the top half of the first round. A high enough draft position would certainly pry him away from college ball.
Strengths
Weathers certainly has the size of a pitcher. He also features mechanics and command beyond his years, the product of growing up around baseball. His fastball is refined and can touch the upper-90s, and he doesn’t shy away from attacking hitters with it. His athleticism will make him a defensive asset on the mound. He also features two off-speed offerings, a curveball and a change-up, that should develop into out pitches. He has all the makings of a future MLB starting pitcher, and could be a solid second or third starter in a rotation one day.
Jim Bowden of The Athletic talked with many throughout MLB to get a list of 15 pitchers to watch entering the MLB Draft.
Loretto ace Ryan Weathers made the list. https://t.co/tOS2e8MDas pic.twitter.com/I0E9YMgpZV
— Craig Thomas (@TD_CraigThomas) May 16, 2018
Weaknesses
His effectiveness as a future starter depends entirely on the development of his secondary pitches. Should those fail to mature, he’ll find himself in a bullpen fast. While there’s little reason to believe he won’t further advance his repetoire, nothing is guaranteed. Weathers will need to work hard to reach his potential.
MLB Comparison
Weathers, a lefty, looks like Sean Doolittle, with more heft and a little more potential to be a starter down the road. Both have mid-90s stuff and exceptional control, which they use to great effect.
