Padres add prospect Weathers to NLDS roster

One of the defining characteristics of the Padres' 2020 season has been the club's reliance on exciting young talent. On Tuesday, San Diego got even younger and perhaps even more exciting.

The Padres added No. 6 prospect Ryan Weathers to the National League Division Series roster for what would be his Major League debut.

If the left-hander appears in a game against the Dodgers in the best-of-5 series, he would become the fifth player in the modern era to make his MLB bow in the postseason, joining Mark Kiger, Adalberto Mondesi, Alex Kirilloff and Shane McClanahan -- the latter two of whom did so in the last week. Weathers would also become just the second pitcher to debut in the playoffs after McClanahan recorded an out for the Rays on Monday night.

Weathers' place on the NLDS roster is all the more astonishing considering his highest level of the Minor Leagues was Class A with Fort Wayne. The 20-year-old southpaw, who is the son of former Major League hurler David Weathers, was taken by San Diego with the seventh overall pick in the 2018 Draft out of a Tennessee high school. He posted a 3.84 ERA with 90 strikeouts and 18 walks in 96 innings in the Midwest League last season. Between there and his brief time in the Minors in 2018, Weathers did not pitch in a playoff game, meaning any NLDS appearance would also mark his professional postseason debut.

Weathers' leap to the big leagues was, in part, caused by impressive improvements during Summer Camp and alternate-site workouts in San Diego over the past three months. The 6-foot-1 pitcher was sitting in the low-90s last season but was touching as high as 97 in workouts. Speaking to the Minor League Baseball podcast in July, Weathers credited a focus on developing more strength in his core and lower body with adding velocity. The left-hander has always been able to throw strikes and he also possesses an above-average changeup.

The Padres used 13 pitchers in their three-game Wild Card Series victory over the Cardinals, including nine in Game 3 last Friday alone. With no off-days scheduled in the NLDS, the club needed a fresh arm and found one in their No. 6 prospect.

Right-hander Mike Clevinger and outfielder Greg Allen -- both of whom came over in a deadline deal with Cleveland -- were also added to the NLDS roster while right-hander Dan Altavilla and infielders Jorge Mateo and Greg Garcia were removed to make room. No. 46 overall prospect Luis Campusano remains on the 28-man roster as San Diego's third catcher.

The Padres and Dodgers begin their NLDS on Tuesday at 9:38 p.m. ET at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.