In a stunning and rare moment during the Miami Marlins’ game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday, pitcher Ryan Weathers experienced an unexpected and painful mishap when he was struck in the head by a throw from his own catcher, Nick Fortes. This unusual incident happened just moments after Weathers threw his final warmup pitch before the bottom of the first inning at George M. Steinbrenner Field, setting the stage for an intense and memorable game.
Weathers, 25, was hit directly on the top of his head by Fortes’ throw to second base, causing him to drop to the ground immediately. The sight of Weathers lying face down on the mound brought gasps from the crowd, and Fortes, 28, was visibly mortified by the accident. Medical staff rushed to attend to the left-hander, prompting a brief pause in the game before the first pitch was thrown.
Despite the frightening moment, Weathers showed remarkable resilience by shaking off the blow. After a short evaluation and throwing a few more warmup pitches, he stood up and walked around the infield, signaling his readiness to continue. He then proceeded to pitch a clean first inning on just eight pitches, showing his determination to battle through the adversity.
Reflecting on the incident, Weathers remarked, “The Lord blessed me by letting [Fortes’ throw] hit the top of my head, not the back of my head. I'm just going to hang on to that.” His upbeat attitude helped ease the tension, especially for Fortes, who was visibly shaken but reassured by Weathers’ words. “Yeah, I just told him, ‘I’m fine. I’m still going to go to battle with you,’” Weathers said. “Like, it’s not going to change that fact. ... It was just one of those weird days. I’m just happy we came out with a win.”
However, the adrenaline rush that followed the impact seemed to take a toll on Weathers as the game progressed. By the third inning, his fastball velocity had noticeably dropped from an average of 97.5 mph to around 91-92 mph. This decline prompted another visit from the trainers and concerned attention from Marlins manager Clayton McCullough, who remained optimistic about his pitcher’s condition.
Weathers finished the third inning but was then removed from the game for precautionary reasons and underwent further evaluation. He described his feeling after the incident as chaotic, likening it to a famous episode of SpongeBob SquarePants where everything is on fire inside the character's brain. “I just felt like I was in pure chaos after that happened. It was just kind of the right time to come out of the game there,” he explained.
Despite the scare, Weathers insisted he felt “good” after the game and was fortunate that the throw hit the top rather than the back of his head. Over his three innings on the mound, he threw a total of 57 pitches, allowing four runs (three earned) on three hits and one walk, while striking out one batter. His performance was a testament to his toughness, especially considering the unusual start to his outing.
Before Saturday’s game, Weathers had been a bright spot in an otherwise inconsistent Miami Marlins pitching rotation. Through four starts, he maintained an impressive 2.49 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 21 and two-thirds innings, proving to be a reliable arm for the team. This resilience was on full display during the game against the Rays, even after the head injury.
On the other hand, the Marlins’ ace and former Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara has struggled mightily this season. Alcantara holds a disappointing 7.89 ERA and has surrendered a league-high 50 earned runs through 12 starts. Despite this, McCullough expressed unwavering faith in Alcantara’s ability to rebound. During a recent MLB Network Radio appearance, McCullough said, “I’m going to keep saying with Sandy, it’s coming. The lack of success right now, at this point, is just kind of attributed to just like the command of the ball and just not throwing and executing as well as he was pre-injury, which is natural and normal for I think everyone who goes through this. It’s a time thing. It’s going to come. I think it’s his command and location of pitches is going to be probably the last thing to come. But it’s coming.”
The Marlins, currently holding a 23-38 record, managed to secure a thrilling 11-10 victory in 10 innings against the Rays, adding a much-needed win to their season ledger. Nick Fortes contributed offensively as well, going 2-for-4 and scoring two runs, helping the team in a tightly contested game.
Saturday’s game was a rollercoaster for the Marlins, marked by the bizarre head injury to Weathers, a back-and-forth offensive battle, and a nail-biting finish. The incident involving Weathers was a rare example of “friendly fire” in baseball, and his ability to stay in the game and perform under such circumstances drew admiration from fans and analysts alike.
Manager Clayton McCullough’s decision to keep Weathers in after the injury showed confidence in his pitcher’s toughness and mental fortitude. After the game, McCullough confirmed, “He got checked out after, and everything right now seems OK,” offering reassurance to the team and fans.
As the Marlins look ahead, the focus remains on nurturing their young pitching talent like Weathers while hoping for a turnaround from Alcantara. The team’s resilience in close games and ability to overcome adversity will be critical as they aim to improve their standing in the competitive National League East division.
For now, the Miami Marlins can breathe a sigh of relief that Ryan Weathers is okay after a frightening moment and can draw inspiration from his grit and determination. The baseball world will be watching closely to see how Weathers recovers from this unusual setback and whether he can continue to anchor the Marlins’ rotation moving forward.
