Julian Merryweather #66

Julian is in his 11th professional season, spending time in the Cleveland (2014-18), Toronto (2019-22) and Cubs (2023-24) organizations... Was claimed off waivers from Toronto, Jan. 17, 2023...Is 5-5 with a 4.33 ERA (60 ER/124.2 IP) and four saves in 116 games (five starts) at the Major League level and 27-20 with a 3.86 ERA (175 ER/408.1 IP) and one save in 106 games (70 starts) in the Minor Leagues...Was acquired by Toronto from Cleveland, Oct. 5, 2018, as the player to be named later in the deal involving INF Josh Donaldson...Missed the 2018 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery...Was selected by Cleveland in the fifth round of the 2014 draft...Attended Oklahoma Baptist University (Okla.) for two years, going 22-5 with a 1.73 ERA (35 ER/181.1 IP)...Graduated from Junipero Serra High School in San Mateo, Calif.

2024

Julian was limited to 15 games with the Cubs in 2024, pitching to a 1-1 record with two holds and a 6.60 ERA (11 ER/15.0 IP)…Was on the injured list April 6-July 22 with a right shoulder strain and Aug. 26-end of season with right knee tendinitis... Tied a career-high three strikeouts April 5 against the Dodgers... Earned his lone win of the season July 27 at Kansas City.

2023

Julian appeared in 69 games during the 2023 campaign, (72.0 IP) going 5-1 with a 3.38 ERA (27 ER/72.0 IP), 1.31 WHIP and two saves...His 12.25 strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched ranked ninth among Major League relievers and fifth among N.L relievers (min. 60 G)...Julian's 98 strikeouts paced Cubs relievers, ranked sixth among major league relievers and second among N.L relievers...Recorded career-highs in wins (5), innings pitched (72.0), strikeouts (98), ERA (3.38) and strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched (12.25)...In his 30 outings from April 15 to July 1, Julian posted a 0.93 ERA (3 ER/ 29.0 IP), fourth in the majors and second in the N.L in that span (min. 20 G)...His 16-straight scoreless outings (15.0 IP) from May 27-July 1 was the longest streak of his career...Was only one of two pitchers in the majors to post a 0.00 ERA (min. 15) during that span...Sept. 10 vs. Arizona earned his first save since April 4, 2021.

2022

Julian appeared in 26 games (one start) for Toronto in 2022, going 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA (20 ER/26.2 IP)... Struck out a season high-tying three batters three times, April 16 vs. Oakland, April 29 vs. Houston and Sept. 6 at Baltimore... Posted a 2.61 ERA (3 ER/10.1 IP) in nine outings from May 31-Sept. 11... Was on the injured list from June 14-Sept. 5 with a left abdominal strain.

2021

Earned his first career save as he struck out all three batters faced in the 10th inning on Opening Day at NYY...Became the eighth pitcher in team history to earn his 1st career save in extra innings (last: Jordan Romano - Aug. 21, 2020 at TB)... Picked up his 2nd save with a 1-2-3 ninth April 4 at NYY...Touched 100.4 MPH, which at the time tied for the fourth-fastest pitch in team history (tracking began in 2008)... Landed on the 60-day injured list with a left oblique strain from April 14-Sept. 7...Made six rehab appearances (two starts) across three levels, going 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA (5.0 IP, 6H, 3ER, 2BB, 7K).

2020

Made five appearances of 2.0 innings and allowed just one run total over those 10.0 innings (4H, 4BB, 11K)...Did not surrender a home run in his eight outings (13.0 IP)...Started the season at the club’s alternate training site in Rochester, NY, and was recalled on Aug. 18..Made his MLB debut on Aug. 20 vs. PHI (G1)...Struck out his 1st batter faced (Alec Bohm) and finished with three strikeouts and one hit over 1.1 innings...Made his 1st MLB start on Aug. 26 vs. BOS...Fanned three batters over 2.0 IP (1H)...Allowed just two hits with no runs allowed over his first four career appearances (7.1 IP)...Issued three walks and struck out 12 of the 27 batters he faced (14.73 SO/9)...Became the 10th player in team history to record 3+ K’s in each of his first four MLB games, and the only one to do so with any relief appearances...Placed on the injured list with right elbow tendinitis from Sept.18 for the remainder of the season.

2019

Started the year on the injured list...Made one rehab start for the Rookie-level GCL Blue Jays on June 24 (2.0 IP, 4H, 2ER, 3K)...Pitched in one game for the Advanced-A Dunedin Blue Jays on June 29 (4.0 IP, 5H, 4ER, 2BB, 4K)...Returned to the IL on July 7 for the remainder of the season...Pitched for Scottsdale in the Arizona Fall League and allowed three runs over four apearances (6.0 IP, 4H, 1HR, 2BB, 8K).

2018

Suffered a right elbow UCL sprain in spring training ... Underwent Tommy John surgery on March 9...Was operated on by Dr. Keith Meister ... Was traded from the Indians to the Blue Jays on Oct. 5 as the Player To Be Named Later for their Aug. 31 aquisition of INF Josh Donaldson.

2017

Split season between AAA Columbus and AA Akron, going a combined 7-9 with a 5.32 ERA in 25 starts (128.2IP, 142H, 76ER, 16HR, 35BB, 128SO)...Started the year at Akron and was promoted to Columbus on May 29...Was on the Triple-A D.L from June 23-July 7 with lower back tightness...In his Columbus debut he posted 8.0 shutout innings(3 hits)with 0 walks and 8 strikeouts...Was tied for fourth in the organization with 128 strikeouts...Fanned career-high 10 batters in 6.0 IP on May 12 at Binghamton.