Marlins baseball is a family affair for Weathers

This story was excerpted from Christina De Nicola’s Marlins Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Marlins, so it's only fitting that a name from the inaugural club has resurfaced in the past week.

When Miami acquired left-hander Ryan Weathers from San Diego ahead of Tuesday's Trade Deadline, the organization also added a legacy. Ryan's father, David, pitched for the Marlins from 1993-96 and 2004.

Although Weathers took the loss after allowing six runs across 3 2/3 relief innings in Saturday's 9-8 defeat to the Rangers at Globe Life Field, he made history in his club debut. Ryan and David became the first father/son duo to play for the Marlins, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

The 23-year-old Weathers was born in 1999, so he wasn't around for his father's first stint with the Marlins. But he has some memories of his dad's short time back with the club in 2004.

"I'm excited," Weathers said Saturday pregame. "I kind of know all the areas. I know we've got a little bit of a nicer stadium than when he played. He's excited. I'm excited and happy to be back on the East Coast."

The seventh overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, Weathers has yet to live up to that high selection, with a 5.95 career ERA. Miami hopes a change of scenery, plus the tutelage of pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr., will help Weathers reach his potential. General manager Kim Ng dealt for him as starter depth, but a taxed bullpen forced him to be recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville as a long reliever. He was optioned to Triple-A on Sunday.

Saturday marked manager Skip Schumaker's first look at Weathers since his time as Padres associate manager in 2021. Weathers flashed a four-seamer that maxed out at 97.4 mph, a changeup and a developing sweeper. What cost him were four walks and hanging pitches.

"I think he's going to have three above-average pitches at some point -- if not by the end of the year," Schumaker said pregame. "He's just going to continue to work. The guy's a worker. He's not content, and he's got some edge to him, which I love. Grew up the right way, obviously, with his dad, so I think there's a lot left in the tank for him, and he's going to have a long career. We're just hoping he can get better and better here while he's here."