Ryan Weathers had simply completed throwing a bullpen and sweating in a sauna when Peter Bendix, the Marlins’ president of baseball operations, referred to as him on Tuesday.
Bendix knowledgeable the left-hander that Miami had traded him to the Yankees. It was a well-recognized accident for the Weathers household, because the then-Florida Marlins dealt Ryan’s dad, David, to the Bronx in the course of the 1996 season. David went on to permit one run over 11 innings that postseason, which ended with a Yankees championship and began a dynasty.
Regardless of the household historical past, the youthful Weathers mentioned that his commerce, which despatched prospects Dillon Lewis, Brendan Jones, Dylan Jasso and Juan Matheus to Miami, got here as “pure shock.”
“I just couldn’t believe that the New York Yankees were a team that I could ever have a chance to play for,” he mentioned Thursday, “so I’m really excited.”
Talking over Zoom, Weathers added that it didn’t take lengthy for him to attach with Yankees common supervisor Brian Cashman, supervisor Aaron Boone and pitching coach Matt Blake after Bendix hung up. His dialog with Blake briefly laid some groundwork for some potential adjustments the Yankees hope to see from the 26-year-old, who recorded a 3.54 ERA over 24 begins the final two seasons.
Weathers expects to change the utilization of his five-pitch arsenal. He threw his high-90s four-seam fastball 45% of the time final season, however his changeup (29% utilization), sweeper (19% utilization) and slider (4% utilization) all had whiff charges over 33%. Weathers additionally integrated a sinker 4% of the time.
After talking with the Yankees, it seems like Weathers will throw a two-seam fastball — be it a sinker or one thing else — extra in opposition to left-handed hitters this coming season. The hope is that that helps his four-seamer and sweeper, although he famous that “we haven’t really gotten into any details yet.”
Weathers has elite stuff, however he’s additionally had bother staying on the mound.
In 2025, flexor and lat strains restricted him to simply eight begins, and there was additionally an index finger pressure in 2024.
Weathers has solely totaled 186.1 large league innings since 2022 after throwing 94.2 frames as a rookie for the Padres in 2021, however he mentioned he’s having fun with a wholesome offseason.
“This is the best I’ve probably felt in a year and a half,” he mentioned.
Some adjustments are serving to with that as nicely, as Weathers has been centered on taking good care of his lat and again. He’s additionally adjusted his lifting routine and mobility work, and he believes “my arm is reaping the benefits.”
“I’m just excited to see where the season goes,” mentioned Weathers, who was labeled a “breakout” candidate by his former supervisor, Miami’s Clayton McCullough, in the course of the Winter Conferences final month.
Whereas Weathers has some bullpen expertise, he’s anticipated to crack the Yankees’ season-opening rotation with Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón and Clarke Schmidt all beginning the 12 months on the injured listing. Nonetheless, Weathers mentioned he’ll do “whatever the Yankees want me to do. My job is to throw the baseball when they give it to me in whatever capacity that is, for however long it is.”
He additionally mentioned that he’s wanting ahead to studying from the Yankees’ veteran pitchers, although he’ll be a bit shy and look forward to his new teammates to method him in spring coaching.
“I’m not gonna go to anybody,” Weathers mentioned with fun. “I’m gonna be in my locker, and when somebody talks to me, I’ll talk to them, but I’m not gonna step on anybody’s toes.”
Weathers shouldn’t be so reserved, as he has been in large league clubhouses his whole life.
His dad spent 19 seasons within the majors, ending his time with the Yankees in 1997 whereas additionally throwing for eight different groups. Weathers principally remembers his father’s time in Cincinnati, the place he made frequent use of Nice American Ballpark’s batting cages and hung round Joey Votto, Dusty Baker and Ken Griffey Jr., amongst others. Aaron Harang, in the meantime, stays a mentor to this present day.
After all, Weathers’ biggest affect was his dad, who additionally performed with Boone and Yankees bench coach Brad Ausmus.
“I just remember pops taking me to the field every day. I know when his arm was hurting, he would still throw me BP,” Weathers mentioned. “When I first started going through it and getting adversity and getting traded, he really helped me along those lines of figuring out, ‘This is what you do with your new team. This is what you do in your day-to-day work.’”
David additionally instructed his son about how loud outdated Yankee Stadium was in the course of the 1996 playoffs. The recollections have Weathers wanting to observe in his father’s footsteps as he begins a brand new chapter of his personal profession.
“I’m looking forward to putting the pinstripes on,” he mentioned. “It’s an incredible honor when an organization of this caliber wants me to pitch for them.”
