2018 MLB Draft: San Diego Padres select Ryan Weathers with the 7th overall pick

With the 7th overall pick in the draft, the San Diego Padres have selected right-handed pitcher Ryan Weathers from the Loretto High School in Loretto, Tennessee. In mock drafts, Weathers was projected to go 11th by ESPN and 11th by Baseball America.

Weathers is coming off of a monstrous high school career, being named Class A Mr. Baseball and Gatorade National Player of the Year within a few weeks of each other. Already ahead of the athletic curve at only 18-years old, the 6-foot-2, 220-lbs southpaw has a 95 MPH fastball and knows how to use it. Weathers has command that’s impressive for his age and a curveball that rivals his fastball in dominance. While there’s the chance that fastball will never jump in velocity, he’s still young and has a significant amount of potential to add to his pitch arsenal.

While there’s always a higher risk factor when drafting pitchers right out of high school, Weathers is the outlier. With his pitching pedigree from his dad, David Weathers, and proven ability to handle pressure, the young hurler would make a solid addition to any team looking to build up a young pitching staff. Weathers had committed to Vanderbilt for next year.

Read our very own Cristiana Caruso’s interview with Weathers here.