Ryan Weiss | |
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![]() Weiss with the Omaha Storm Chasers in 2022 | |
Hanwha Eagles – No. 55 | |
Pitcher | |
Born: South Elgin, Illinois | December 10, 1996|
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
Professional debut | |
CPBL: August 18, 2023, for the Fubon Guardians | |
KBO: June 25, 2024, for the Hanwha Eagles | |
CPBL statistics (through 2023 season) | |
Win–loss record | 4–1 |
Earned run average | 2.32 |
Strikeouts | 25 |
KBO statistics (through August 13,2025) | |
Win–loss record | 18–8 |
Earned run average | 3.20 |
Strikeouts | 262 |
Teams | |
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Ryan Weiss (born December 10,1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Hanwha Eagles of the KBO League in Daejeon,Korea where he is affectionately known as 'Daejeon Jesus.' [1] [2] He has previously played in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for the Fubon Guardians.
Weiss attended South Elgin High School in South Elgin,Illinois. [3] In 2015,his senior year,he went 6–3 with a 2.12 ERA over 59+1⁄3 innings. [4] As a high schooler, his fastball reached only 84 miles per hour (135 km/h). He originally signed to play college baseball at Elgin Community College, but switched his commitment to Wright State University in June 2015. [5]
Weiss redshirted his freshman year at Wright State in 2016. In 2017, as a redshirt freshman, he appeared in 15 games (14 starts) in which he compiled a 2.13 ERA with eighty strikeouts over 88+2⁄3 innings and was named the Horizon League Freshman of the Year alongside earning All-American honors. [6] By the end of his freshman season, his fastball had risen to 95 miles per hour (153 km/h). [5] That summer, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Hyannis Harbor Hawks of the Cape Cod Baseball League and was named a league all-star. [7] In 2018, he pitched to a 3.40 ERA over 98 innings. [8] After the season's end, he was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the fourth round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft. [9] [10]
After signing, Weiss made his professional debut with the Rookie-level Arizona League Diamondbacks before being promoted to the Hillsboro Hops of the Low–A Northwest League. Over 30+1⁄3 innings, he compiled a 3.86 ERA. [11] Weiss began the 2019 season with the Single–A Midwest League Kane County Cougars and was later promoted to the Visalia Rawhide of the High–A California League, pitching 128+1⁄3 innings to an 8–7 record and a 4.07 ERA over 26 starts between both teams. [12]
He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. [13] In 2021, Weiss began the year with the Amarillo Sod Poodles of the Double-A Central and was promoted to the Reno Aces of the Triple-A West in July. [14] [15] Over 34 appearances (eight starts) between the two clubs, Weiss went 6–3 with a 4.60 ERA and 88 strikeouts over 78+1⁄3 innings. [16]
On November 19, 2021, the Diamondbacks selected Weiss' contract and added him to their 40-man roster. [17] He opened the 2022 season with Amarillo and was promoted to Reno in late May. On June 26, he was designated for assignment following the promotion of Dallas Keuchel. [18]
On July 1, 2022, Weiss was claimed off waivers by the Kansas City Royals and optioned to the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers. [19] In 30 games out of the bullpen for Omaha, Weiss registered a 2–2 record and 7.82 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 35+2⁄3 innings pitched. Following the season, on October 26, he was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Triple–A. [20]
Weiss was assigned to Triple–A Omaha to begin the 2023 season. In 12 appearances, he struggled to a 7.07 ERA with 15 strikeouts in 14.0 innings of work. Weiss was released by the Royals organization on May 20, 2023. [21]
On June 6, 2023, Weiss signed with the High Point Rockers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. [22] He made 9 starts for the Rockers, posting a 5–3 record and 4.61 ERA with 52 strikeouts in 54+2⁄3 innings pitched. On July 29, Weiss was released by High Point. [23]
On August 3, 2023, Weiss signed with the Fubon Guardians of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL). [24] In 5 starts for the Guardians, he registered a 4–1 record and 2.32 ERA with 25 strikeouts across 31 innings. Weiss became a free agent following the season.
On April 15, 2024, Weiss signed with the High Point Rockers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. [25] In 9 starts for the Rockers, Weiss compiled a 3–4 record and 4.34 ERA with 73 strikeouts across 45+2⁄3 innings of work.
On June 16, 2024, Weiss' contract was purchased by the Hanwha Eagles of the KBO League. [26] [27] Weiss appeared in his first game for the Eagles on June 25, striking out seven Doosan Bears batters in six scoreless innings of work. Alongside veteran major leaguers Hyun-jin Ryu and Jaime Barría in the starting rotation, Weiss contributed to the team posting a 14–10 record in August and making a surprise late entry into the race for the KBO playoffs.
Weiss notably struck out 12 SSG Landers on August 16, and recorded a win against the champions–to–be Kia Tigers in his final outing of the year on September 27. In 16 total starts for the '24 Eagles, he compiled a 5–5 record and 3.73 ERA with 98 strikeouts across 91+2⁄3 innings pitched.
On November 22, 2024, Weiss re–signed with Hanwha on a one–year, $950,000 contract. [28]
Weiss' parents divorced when he was a child and his father committed suicide when Weiss was 14 years old. In January 2018, his mother died of a heart attack. [5]