The Yankees’ rotation is hanging by a thread with Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón on the shelf. Enter Ryan Weathers, a 26-year-old southpaw who just landed in the Bronx for pennies on the dollar—and he might be exactly what saves their season.
Quick Snapshot: Everything You Need to Know About Ryan Weathers:
- Full Name: Ryan David Weathers
- Current Team: New York Yankees (acquired January 14, 2026)
- Previous Team: Miami Marlins
- Position: Left-handed starting pitcher
- Age: 26 years old
- Date of Birth: December 17, 1999
- Height: 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm)
- Weight: 230 pounds (104 kg)
- MLB Debut: October 6, 2020 (Padres – postseason debut)
- 2025 Season Stats: 2-2 record, 3.99 ERA, 37 strikeouts in 38.1 innings (Miami)
- Career Stats (through 2025): 12-23 record, 4.93 ERA, 235 strikeouts in 281 innings
- 2026 Salary: $1.35 million (one-year arbitration deal)
- Contract Status: Under team control through 2028, arbitration-eligible for two more seasons
- Wife: Thayer Hall (married November 6, 2022)
- Father: David Weathers (19-year MLB veteran, 1996 Yankees World Series champion)
The Trade That’s Got Yankees Fans Buzzing
On January 14, 2026, the Yankees made their move. They sent four prospects to Miami—outfielders Dillon Lewis and Brendan Jones, plus infielders Dylan Jasso and Juan Matheus—to snag Weathers just as their rotation was crumbling.
This isn’t just any pitcher. This is the son of a Yankees World Series hero stepping into his father’s pinstripes nearly 30 years after his passing. Talk about destiny.
Read more: Paul Blackburn Yankees Stats, Age, Wife, Salary, Height, Weight, Contract
Why This Trade Makes Perfect Sense Right Now
Cole’s recovering from Tommy John surgery. Rodón won’t be ready until late April or May after elbow surgery. Clarke Schmidt might miss the entire year. The Yankees needed bodies—capable bodies—and Weathers fits the bill at a bargain price.
In 2025 his four-seam averaged about 96.8–96.9 mph (well above league average and in the top quartile/upper percentiles among starters), and his sweeper/changeup have generated very high whiff rates in recent seasons (reported in the upper percentiles; different leaderboards show ~39–50% on isolated samples).
The Numbers Behind the Hype
Weathers’ career ERA sits at 4.93, which doesn’t scream “ace material” at first glance. But dig deeper. In his two seasons with Miami (2024-2025), when healthy, he posted a combined 3.74 ERA across 24 starts with a 1.21 WHIP and opponents hitting just .236 against him.
The problem? Staying on the field. He’s never made more than 18 starts in a season, hitting that mark as a rookie in 2021. Injuries have been the constant shadow over his career, but the talent is undeniable.
Ryan Weathers High School Stats: A Prodigy From Tennessee
Before he was a big league pitcher, Ryan Weathers was tearing through Tennessee high school baseball like a force of nature at Loretto High School.
Junior Year (2017):
- Record: 8-0
- ERA: 0.14
- Strikeouts: 111 in 49 innings
- Batting Average: .475 with five home runs and 29 RBIs
Senior Year (2018):
- Record: 11-0
- ERA: 0.09 (yes, zero-point-zero-nine)
- Strikeouts: 148 in 76 innings
- At the plate: .434 BA with nine doubles, five homers, .747 slugging percentage
- Honor: Named 2018 Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year
Those aren’t typos. Weathers allowed one earned run his entire senior season. One. He led Loretto to the Tennessee Class A state championship game and was the seventh overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft by San Diego.
Ryan Weathers Hit in the Head: The Scary June 2025 Incident
On June 7, 2025, baseball nearly lost Ryan Weathers in the most bizarre way imaginable.
During pregame warmups before a Marlins-Rays matchup, Weathers threw his final warmup pitch from the mound. Catcher Nick Fortes, following routine protocol, fired the ball down to second base. The throw missed its target—and drilled Weathers directly on top of the head.
The impact knocked his cap clean off. Weathers collapsed face-first onto the mound. The stadium went silent. Trainers sprinted out as he lay motionless.
“The Lord blessed me by letting it hit the top of my head, not the back of my head,” Weathers said afterward. “I’m just going to hang on to that.”
Somehow, after being evaluated, Weathers stayed in the game. He threw a clean first inning on just eight pitches. But by the third inning, the adrenaline faded. He felt disconnected, describing it like “that episode of SpongeBob where everything’s on fire inside his brain.” The team pulled him for precautionary reasons after 57 pitches.
Fortes was visibly shaken. Weathers reassured him immediately: “I’m fine. I’m still going to go to battle with you.”
No long-term damage was reported, but the incident highlighted both Weathers’ toughness and the fragility of health in baseball.
What the Yankees Are Getting in Ryan Weathers
The Good: Elite velocity for a lefty, plus secondary pitches, upside for days, and affordability. He’s under team control through 2028 and costs just $1.35 million in 2026. He still has a minor league option, giving the Yankees roster flexibility. Plus, he’s got championship DNA—his father David helped the 1996 Yankees win their first World Series in 18 years.
The Concern: Durability. Weathers has battled lat strains, flexor strains, forearm issues, and finger injuries throughout his career. He’s pitched just 125 innings over the past two seasons combined.
The Verdict: Low-risk, high-reward. If pitching coach Matt Blake can unlock Weathers’ full potential and keep him healthy, the Yankees just pulled off a heist. If injuries strike again, they’re only out four mid-level prospects and pocket change.
The Personal Side: Family, Faith, and Fastballs
Ryan Weathers married Thayer Hall on November 6, 2022. Thayer played volleyball at the University of Florida and was the 2017-18 Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year—an athletic power couple if there ever was one.
Ryan’s sister Karly plays Division I basketball at Alabama. His father, David, pitched 19 seasons in the majors, including stints with the Yankees from 1996-97, and was part of that magical 1996 championship run.
The family’s deep religious faith has been a constant. Ryan remains active in his church community and credits his upbringing for his grounded approach to the game.
What Comes Next for Weathers and the Yankees
Weathers slots into a Yankees rotation that lists Max Fried as the front man; other projected starters include Will Warren and Luis Gil when healthy. Weathers joins that depth group while the team waits for Rodón and Gerrit Cole to return. Veterans Ryan Yarbrough and Paul Blackburn were listed as depth options in coverage.
Spring training will be crucial. Can Weathers stay healthy? Can he harness his electric stuff consistently? The Yankees haven’t ruled out pursuing additional starting pitching—names like Freddy Peralta and MacKenzie Gore have been floated—but Weathers gives them breathing room.
And here’s the kicker: if Weathers breaks out, this could be the steal of the offseason. A 26-year-old lefty with mid-to-upper-90s heat, elite breaking stuff, and playoff experience for less than the price of a utility infielder? That’s the dream scenario Brian Cashman is betting on.
FAQs About Ryan Weathers
Q: Is Ryan Weathers officially a Yankee now?
A: Yes. The Yankees acquired him from the Miami Marlins on January 14, 2026, in exchange for four minor league prospects.
Q: How much money is Ryan Weathers making in 2026?
A: Weathers agreed to a one-year, $1.35 million contract for 2026, avoiding arbitration. He remains under team control through 2028.
Q: Was Ryan Weathers seriously hurt when he got hit in the head?
A: On June 7, 2025, Weathers was struck in the head by catcher Nick Fortes’s throw to second base during warmups. While scary—he collapsed on the mound—he was evaluated, stayed in the game initially, and was later removed as a precaution. No long-term damage was reported from the incident.
Q: Where did Ryan Weathers go to high school, and how good was he?
A: Weathers attended Loretto High School in Tennessee. He was historically dominant, posting an 11-0 record with a 0.09 ERA and 148 strikeouts in 76 innings his senior year. He won the 2018 Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year award.
Q: What’s the connection between Ryan Weathers and the Yankees?
A: Ryan’s father, David Weathers, pitched for the Yankees from 1996-97 and was part of their 1996 World Series championship team. Ryan is the fifth father-son pair to play for the Yankees, making this trade a full-circle moment for the family.
The Yankees just rolled the dice on a talented lefty with everything to prove. If Ryan Weathers can stay healthy and harness his electric arsenal, New York might have found their bridge to October—and beyond. Keep watching. This could get very interesting.
Vikas Tiwari, writer and editor focused on Yankees news, rumors, trade updates, and game coverage, emphasizing accuracy, sourcing, and clarity.
