Weathers returns from 60-day IL, promptly deals 5 scoreless frames

MIAMI -- Marlins left-hander Ryan Weathers made his Major League debut in the 2020 postseason. His resume consisted of 67 games over parts of five seasons. Yet none of those appearances felt quite like Thursday night’s.

Weathers tossed five scoreless innings in his return from the 60-day injured list in the Marlins’ 5-0 victory over the Nationals at loanDepot park. He struck out four and walked none, scattering five hits -- all singles -- in a 68-pitch outing that helped Miami take the season series against Washington, 7-6.

“I think of all of my starts in my career, today was probably the most nerves I've had,” Weathers said. “First time I've ever had an arm injury, so you want to come back and be normal. So the first inning, I definitely felt like I was cautious. And then I let a couple go, and it's like, ‘All right, I'm good to go.’ So just a blessing to be back.”

The 25-year-old Weathers permitted CJ Abrams’ ground-ball single through the left side of the infield on the first pitch of the game, then proceeded to strike out two of the next three batters to escape the inning unscathed.

After a perfect second, Weathers allowed a one-out single to Jacob Young in the third to snap a stretch of seven consecutive batters retired. Later in the frame, with runners on the corners and two outs, Weathers struck out Riley Adams swinging on a 98.9 mph four-seamer -- his fastest pitch of the evening and the fastest-thrown pitch to result in a K in his career.

“Ryan was terrific,” manager Clayton McCullough said. “The one thing that really stood out to me tonight was how under control he looked right out of the chute. It would have been very easy to have the length of layoff that he had, ton of adrenaline, getting back on a Major League mound again and come out and get outside your mechanics a little bit if you overthrow some. Ryan, right away, was in a very good rhythm.”

Helping Weathers outduel lefty MacKenzie Gore, who also was reinstated from the IL, was catcher Brian Navarreto in his first MLB start since Aug. 25, 2020.

“It’s tough when you don't know the pitcher, but by catching him in the rehab, I feel like I was so comfortable with him, and I know what he liked to do and what he's working on,” said Navarreto, who teamed up with Weathers in his first rehab start with Triple-A Jacksonville on Aug. 30. “And tonight ... his command and attacking the zone and finishing guys, I feel like his changeup, sweeper, everything was good.”

It was an encouraging return for Weathers, who has missed substantial time due to injury for the second consecutive season.

After his fourth Spring Training start, Weathers sustained a left flexor muscle strain, a tough blow considering how sharp he had looked (11 1/3 IP, 1 ER). He didn’t make his season debut until May 14, and he got just four more starts before a fluke accident on June 7 kept him sidelined until Thursday’s series finale.

During that game against the Rays, catcher Nick Fortes’ warmup throw to second base hit Weathers in the head. Though Weathers would go on to pitch three innings, he exited for precautionary reasons due to a significant decrease in velocity. Weathers felt left shoulder discomfort while trying to play catch the following day, and Miami placed him on the 60-day IL on June 9 with a left lat strain.

In 2024, Weathers landed on the IL on June 8 with a left index finger strain during an All-Star-worthy first half. As was the case in 2024, Weathers is in line to make three starts before the season ends.

“The Lord put me on this earth to play baseball, so as soon as I was told the initial news of my injury and the severity of it, I had this area circled on the calendar,” Weathers said. “I wanted to come back and pitch for the Marlins. I love putting on a big league uniform. I'll always say that sitting here.

“It was more important -- not just for me, but for the guys and the staff -- for me to get back and put forth my best effort to try to get back. Could have very easily just shut it down, like, 'I'm not pitching this year.' But that's not my personality. It's not who I am. So it just felt good to be healthy and back on the big league mound.”