Weathers turns up the heat in dazzling first rehab outing

SEATTLE -- The Marlins’ first trip outside the Eastern time zone continued Sunday with their series finale against the Mariners, but for the second straight day, Miami got good news closer to home.

On Saturday, it was Eury Pérez taking the next step in his recovery from Tommy John surgery by beginning a rehab assignment with an inning-long outing for Single-A Jupiter. Sunday, it was Ryan Weathers’ turn to begin his own rehab.

Weathers, who was shut down with a mild flexor strain the day after his fourth Spring Training start on March 17, came out firing, striking out six in three perfect innings while needing just 35 pitches to retire all nine batters he faced.

The lefty’s fastball topped out at 99.1 mph, faster than any pitch he’s thrown in the big leagues in his four-year career -- though he had been getting up to 99 with some regularity in Spring Training before his injury.

In four Grapefruit League appearances, Weathers allowed just one earned run in 11 1/3 innings, with 11 strikeouts. The southpaw, who was traded to Miami from San Diego at the 2023 Trade Deadline, posted a 5-6 record with a 3.63 ERA last season, though his year was disrupted by a lengthy stint on the IL with a left index finger strain.

It’s the latest step in a general return to health for the Marlins' rotation, which came into Opening Day anchored by Sandy Alcantara -- making his return after missing all of 2024 -- but down Weathers, Pérez, Edward Cabrera (blister) and Braxton Garrett (UCL surgery).

Cabrera made his season debut on April 11 and is set to make his fourth start in Miami’s series opener on Monday at Dodger Stadium. With Weathers on the road back and Pérez coming up behind him, the Marlins -- whose 5.83 rotation ERA entering Sunday was the second-worst in the Majors -- are set to get a much-needed boost on the hill to complement an offense that boasts the fifth-best average in the Majors.