There was a massive signing in the sports world on Sunday. I mean, huge.
We've been waiting and speculating and wondering if it would happen. And today, finally, we got the news we'd all been waiting for.
The Padres signed their first round draft pick!
Left-handed pitcher Ryan Weathers, the 7th overall selection, agreed to a reported $5.2 million bonus, which is in line with the suggested slot money for that pick.
The Padres had until July 6 to get a deal done so this is a nice stress reliever.
Weathers was fabulous as a Tennessee high schooler. During his senior season he went 10-0 with 148 strikeouts in 76 innings and allowed all of one earned run. That was good enough to earn him the Gatorade National High School Player of the Year award.
The last guy to win that honor was last year's 1st round pick MacKenzie Gore, who is now the number two prospect in the Padres system and the 14th-ranked prospect in all of baseball.
Weathers is expected to go to the Padres training complex in Peoria, Arizona, and then possibly to the Northwest League to start his professional career.
That news was nice because it covered up a 7-5 loss to the Pirates on Sunday afternoon at Petco Park. Tyson Ross, who is a likely trade candidate before the July 31 deadline, allowed three home runs (including a grand slam) in five-plus innings and for the first time since 2011 did not strike out a single hitter in a game he started.
Hunter Renfroe was San Diego’s most effective offensive player with an RBI double and a solo home run. The other seven Padres hits were all singles.
The Padres are off on Monday then play two games against the A’s in Oakland starting Tuesday.
