David Weathers
Encyclopedia
John David Weathers is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher
. He bats and throws right-handed.
in Moore County, Tennessee and was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays
in the 3rd round of the 1988 Major League Baseball Draft
. Weathers made his major league debut with the Blue Jays on August 2, 1991, and was drafted by the Florida Marlins
in the 1992 Major League Baseball expansion draft.
for Mark Hutton
. Weathers won a World Series
ring with the Yankees that year. On December 20, 1997, he was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds. On June 24, 1998, Weathers was claimed off waivers by the Milwaukee Brewers
. Weathers stayed with Milwaukee until July 30, 2001, when he was traded to the Chicago Cubs
, along with Robert Miniel, for Ruben Quevedo
and Pete Zoccolillo. He became a free agent
at the end of the season and signed with the New York Mets
. Weathers pitched for the Mets until June 17, 2004, when he and Jeremy Griffiths were traded to the Houston Astros
for Richard Hidalgo
. Weathers was released by the Astros on September 7, 2004, and signed with the Marlins the very next day.
(returning to the team he played for in early 1998), where he has had an ERA
under 4 every year that he was with the club. He was the closer
for the Reds in and had 33 saves.
On August 9, 2009, the Cincinnati Reds traded Weathers to the Milwaukee Brewers for a player to be named later. Weathers was quoted as saying of Cincinnati, "I really felt like this is probably where I would end my career, and I really wanted to. But in this game, things don't go like you want them or how you plan them. It's a good day but, to be honest with you, it's a tough day emotionally because you form a lot of bonds, a lot of trust with guys you've been with for five or six years. You just don't find that every day, especially in this game."
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. He bats and throws right-handed.
Early career
Weathers attended Motlow State Community CollegeMotlow State Community College
Motlow State Community College opened its doors in 1969. The College serves more than 540,000 residents in an 11-county service area including Bedford, Cannon, Coffee, DeKalb, Franklin, Lincoln, Moore, Rutherford, Van Buren, White, and Warren counties in southern middle Tennessee.Motlow College is...
in Moore County, Tennessee and was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
in the 3rd round of the 1988 Major League Baseball Draft
1988 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1988 Major League Baseball draft.-Supplemental First Round Selections:-External links:*...
. Weathers made his major league debut with the Blue Jays on August 2, 1991, and was drafted by the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
in the 1992 Major League Baseball expansion draft.
Mid-career
Weathers played for the Marlins until , when he was traded to the New York YankeesNew York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
for Mark Hutton
Mark Hutton
Mark Steven Hutton , was a right-handed pitcher who last played in Major League Baseball for the Cincinnati Reds on 21 May 1998....
. Weathers won a World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
ring with the Yankees that year. On December 20, 1997, he was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds. On June 24, 1998, Weathers was claimed off waivers by the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. Weathers stayed with Milwaukee until July 30, 2001, when he was traded to the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, along with Robert Miniel, for Ruben Quevedo
Rubén Quevedo
Rubén Quevedo [IPA ru βen' ke βe' do] is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played with the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers . He batted and threw right-handed....
and Pete Zoccolillo. He became a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
at the end of the season and signed with the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
. Weathers pitched for the Mets until June 17, 2004, when he and Jeremy Griffiths were traded to the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
for Richard Hidalgo
Richard Hidalgo
Richard José Hidalgo [ee-DAHL-go] is a former Major League Baseball right fielder. He played with the Houston Astros , New York Mets , and the Texas Rangers . He batted and threw right-handed....
. Weathers was released by the Astros on September 7, 2004, and signed with the Marlins the very next day.
Later career
A free agent at the end of the season, Weathers signed with the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
(returning to the team he played for in early 1998), where he has had an ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
under 4 every year that he was with the club. He was the closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
for the Reds in and had 33 saves.
On August 9, 2009, the Cincinnati Reds traded Weathers to the Milwaukee Brewers for a player to be named later. Weathers was quoted as saying of Cincinnati, "I really felt like this is probably where I would end my career, and I really wanted to. But in this game, things don't go like you want them or how you plan them. It's a good day but, to be honest with you, it's a tough day emotionally because you form a lot of bonds, a lot of trust with guys you've been with for five or six years. You just don't find that every day, especially in this game."