Call to the pen
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San Diego Padres top 10 prospects for 2019

By Benjamin Chase

WASHINGTON, D.C. - JULY 15: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the World Team looks on during batting practice at the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Nationals Park on Sunday, July 15, 2018 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Fernando Tatis Jr.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - JULY 15: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the World Team looks on during batting practice at the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Nationals Park on Sunday, July 15, 2018 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Fernando Tatis Jr. /
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San Diego Padres
TAMPA, FL – AUGUST 03: Ryan Weatthers (35) of Loretto HS (TN) delivers a pitch to the plate during the East Coast Pro Showcase on August 02, 2017, at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Ryan Weathers, LHP

Birthday: 12/17/1999 (18)
Acquired: Draft, 1st round, 2018
Level(s): AZL Padres 2, low-A Fort Wayne
Statistics: 0-3, 7 GS, 18 1/3 IP, 3.44 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 4.8% BB, 21.7% K

Many remember Ryan’s father, David Weathers, who had a 19-year big league career, making over 950 major league appearances over his career. However, Ryan Weathers began to make a name for himself over the summer showcase circuit in 2017 and carried that forward into the spring of 2018, seemingly pushing higher up draft boards each time I talked to evaluators around the league.

By the time the last few weeks before the draft came, many felt Weathers could go off the board as the first high school pitcher selected in the draft. He did just that, going at 7th overall to the San Diego Padres.

Weathers continued the tradition of Padres first-round high school arms showing very well in their pro debuts, giving hitters very little to work with in his debut, keeping extra baserunners off the bases for sure.

Rather than any one pitch that grades as plus, Weathers offers a collection of fringe-plus pitches, with a fastball that can touch mid-90s and sits 91-93, an impressive change, and a tumbling curve. He does very well sequencing all of his pitches and using the edges of the zone to create weak contact and create swing and miss as well.

After finishing the season at Fort Wayne, the San Diego Padres will likely send Weathers back to the same spot in 2019 to open the season, but if his mature approach on the mound continues to progress, he could find himself advancing to high-A quickly.

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