PHILADELPHIA – Ryan Weber looks so young that when he came up to introduce himself to Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez in the hotel lobby on Monday, Gonzalez, not knowing who he was, thought Weber was going to ask him to sign a ball.
Weber was the Braves’ starting pitcher Monday night against the Phillies, called up from Triple-A to make his major league debut. He took the rotation turn of rookie Matt Wisler, who had struggled for more than a month and was moved to a bullpen role Sunday in an effort to help him relax and restore his confidence.
Wisler threw two scoreless innings with one walk, two strikeouts and one hit batter Sunday, and the Braves plan to keep him in a bullpen role for the time being. Weber is scheduled to make another start Sunday against the Mets at Turner Field.
Weber, who turned 25 last month, was 6-5 with a 2.35 ERA in a combined 38 games (nine starts) this season at Double-A and Triple-A, including 6-3 with a 2.21 ERA in 27 games (six starts) at Triple-A Gwinnett. He had 59 strikeouts with 10 walks in 99 2/3 total innings.
“He throws a sinker, curveball and changeup, able to locate with all three,” said Braves reliever Peter Moylan, who was teammates with Weber for much of the summer at Gwinnett. “He doesn’t get over-awed by any situation. Every time I’ve seen him pitch, no matter what the situation was – he’s started, he’s relieved, he’s come in with runners on…. Smart, very intelligent, good golfer, great guy, quiet.”
Generously listed as 6 feet and 180 pounds, Weber actually appears closer to 5-10 and perhaps 165. His fastball usually sits in the 89-92 mph range.
Someone asked Moylan if the newbie was a “poor man’s Greg Maddux.”
“We’ll see if he’s a poor man’s Maddux – he’s got similar movement,” Moylan said. “We’ll see what he can do when he’s thrown into this.”
Weber would be the 59th different player used by the Braves this season, nine more than their franchise record prior to 2015 and 20 more players than they used in 2014.
His debut comes against a Phillies team that selected him out Clearwater Central Catholic High in the 12th round of the 2008 free-agent draft. He didn’t sign and was drafted by the Braves a year later in the 22nd round out of St. Petersburg College.
