Patrick Weigel

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #14 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: The Braves' 2016 minor league pitcher of the year, Weigel had Tommy John surgery the following year and missed most of 2018 as well. He returned in 2019 with a solid season at Triple-A Gwinnett and saw his stuff return to its pre-injury form. The Braves brought Weigel to the alternate training site in 2020 and called him up for his major league debut on Sept. 4, although Weigel struggled with two hits, two runs and three walks allowed in two-third of an inning against the Nationals.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Weigel's fastball typically sits around 95 mph and has touched 97-98. The pitch is solid-average in longer stints with good carry and running life and can be a plus offering in shorter outings. Weigel worked to reshape his slider into a sweepier pitch with more horizontal break at the alternate site. If the changes hold, the Braves believe Weigel's slider will get more swings and misses and have one of the best sliders in the system. Weigel also throws an average changeup to give him the needed third pitch to start, but his control is fringy.
  
  THE FUTURE: Weigel fits best as a swingman or multi-inning reliever with his stuff playing up in shorter outings. He should be ready to help the Braves pitching staff in 2021.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #12 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: The organization's minor league pitcher of the year in 2016, Weigel put himself on a fast track through the minors and pushed to Triple-A in 2017 before blowing out his elbow and having Tommy John surgery that wiped out his 2018 season. Weigel returned to the mound in 2019 and had a successful year while the Braves eased him back into his workload with limited innings and pitch counts.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: His pure stuff got back to the level of his pre-injury self at its best, but the consistency came and went. Weigel's fastball touched 97-98 mph at his best in shorter outings, but he pitched in the low-90s over longer outings. He paired that with a sharp slider that has the chance to be a plus offering and will occasionally mix in an average changeup, but that pitch needs more consistency as well. Weigel's control took a step back in his return and he will need to correct that to profile in a starting role.
  
  THE FUTURE: Weigel has a chance to start, but could be a better fit in the bullpen, as his stuff plays up in shorter outings. The team used him in a reliever role in July and August to end the season.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #13 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: After pitching for three colleges in three seasons, the strong-armed Weigel leapt through the Braves' farm system and was not far away from Atlanta when he blew out his elbow in June 2017. He spent a year and a half rehabbing, but should be at full speed for the 2019 season.
  
  Scouting Report: Weigel's delivery is never pretty and sometimes his arm works to catch up to his lower half, but he's strong enough that he makes it work. He got back on the mound during instructional league and he showed plenty of signs that he was rusty. He showed solid velocity (91-95 mph) but he struggled to throw strikes and his slider didn't have its usual break, but that was just a chance to get back on the mound. Pre-injury, Weigel touched up to 98 with a plus fastball, generally sitting 92-95 mph over the course of an outing. His slider flashed above-average and he showed he could manipulate its break and work it to both sides of the plate. His changeup was a below-average pitch that was often too firm.
  
  The Future: Weigel's injury might end up pushing him to the bullpen because the Braves have so many starting pitching prospects. He has a starter's frame, but his stuff could play even better in short stints.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #16 prospect in 2018
  A steal of a seventh-round pick who quickly established himself as a hard-throwing starting pitching prospect as a pro, Weigel was putting himself in contention for a spot in Atlanta in 2017 when his season ended in mid-June with a torn elbow ligament. His final outing blew up his ERA as he labored through three innings, giving up nine runs. Before he went down with the elbow injury, Weigel had been a dominating presence despite a delivery that seems better suited for 15-20-pitch stints out of the bullpen. He has a high back elbow in his delivery and his arm sometimes has to catch up to his lower half, but he generally makes it work because he's extremely strong. He has average control. Hitters get a good look at the ball thanks to Weigel's delivery and high slot, but they still have trouble catching up. Weigel has a power approach, attacking hitters with a 92-95 mph fastball. He'll mix a curveball and slider that trade back and forth as far as which is better. Both flash above-average on a good day, and he's comfortable using his slider to backdoor hitters or get them to chase away. Weigel's below-average changeup needs more separation. Weigel will likely be ready for instructional league in 2018, but his next official outing may not be until 2019.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #9 prospect in 2017
  Weigel pitched for three schools in college and was a reliever at Houston when the Braves made him a 2015 seventh-round pick. A mediocre pro debut at Rookie-level Danville that year did little to excite the masses before the righthander displayed the ability to throw four pitches for strikes at low Class A Rome in 2016. He wound up ranking second in the organization in wins (11) and ERA and tying for second in strikeouts (152) while finishing the season at Double-A. Standing 6-foot-6 and possessing a live arm, Weigel has an intimidating presence on the mound. His fastball sits 94-95 mph and touches 98, which is velocity that overpowered most low Class A South Atlantic League hitters. He mixes his heater with a sweeping mid-70s curveball, a hard mid-80s slider with short, downward action and a changeup that is inconsistent but flashes plus potential when he throws it properly. The development of his changeup could determine whether Weigel starts or relieves at higher levels. He also has ironed out most of the control problems that hampered him in college but needs to fine-tune his command. A classic late bloomer, Weigel will return to Double-A Mississippi to open 2017 and could be knocking on the door to the big leagues by the end of the season.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #192 prospect in 2015 draft
  A team drafting Weigel is betting on pure arm strength. Weigel can run his fastball up to 99 mph and even at that velocity it shows above-average life. At his best he works down in the zone and generates ground ball after ground ball. But Weigel's release point comes and goes and there are outings where he simply can't find the strike zone--he hit nine batters in 51 innings to go with the 20 walks. Weigel shows the potential to have an average slider to go with the fastball. He's also throws a curveball that is well below-average. But you have to worry that a pitcher who couldn't earn the closer job at Houston will struggle to earn a significant role in pro ball either.
• Ranked #183 prospect in 2014 draft
  A 6-foot-7, 225-pound behemoth with prodigious arm strength but little feel for pitching, Weigel went 0-8, 8.02 in 34 innings as a freshman at Pacific last summer, then ranked as the No. 5 prospect in the California Collegiate League, where he did a better job throwing strikes and found success with a slower delivery. He transferred to Oxnard for his sophomore year and went 5-2, 3.00 with 80 strikeouts but 58 walks in 57 innings. Weigel's fastball ranges from 92-97 mph, but he has little command of it or his other pitches. His curveball and slider both flash shape and depth, but he does not repeat them. His changeup needs the most work, as he slows his arm down when he throws it. Weigel's delivery is a mess, with too many moving parts and a disconnect between his upper and lower half. He has a deep takeaway and struggles to repeat his slot. When everything syncs up, he shows promise, but he is a high-risk, long-term project. His arm strength and body could turn him into a lottery ticket in the top five rounds.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked South Atlantic League #10 prospect in 2016
  On a stuff basis, Weigel matched up with any righthanded starter in the SAL this year. His fastball sat 92-95 mph, but he showed an ability to find 98 consistently. The control troubles that had long bedeviled him in college seemed largely behind him, though he struggled at times to locate to his glove side. His wildness now is largely limited to throwing balls rather than pitches that catch too much of the plate. Weigel throws a pair of breaking balls. His best is a potentially plus, mid-80s slider with short, downward action that makes it resemble a power curveball. He also throws a slower, bigger mid-70s curveball on occasion. His changeup needs improvement, and with his fastball and slider, he didn't need to throw his change much in the SAL. Weigel spent most of his college career as a reliever, but with his physical 6-foot-6 frame and ability to maintain his stuff, he is earning a look as a starter.

• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Braves' 2016 minor league pitcher of the year, Weigel had Tommy John surgery the following year and missed most of 2018 as well. He returned in 2019 with a solid season at Triple-A Gwinnett and saw his stuff return to its pre-injury form. The Braves brought Weigel to the alternate training site in 2020 and called him up for his major league debut on Sept. 4, although Weigel struggled with two hits, two runs and three walks allowed in two-third of an inning against the Nationals.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Weigel's fastball typically sits around 95 mph and has touched 97-98. The pitch is solid-average in longer stints with good carry and running life and can be a plus offering in shorter outings. Weigel worked to reshape his slider into a sweepier pitch with more horizontal break at the alternate site. If the changes hold, the Braves believe Weigel's slider will get more swings and misses and have one of the best sliders in the system. Weigel also throws an average changeup to give him the needed third pitch to start, but his control is fringy.
  
  THE FUTURE: Weigel fits best as a swingman or multi-inning reliever with his stuff playing up in shorter outings. He should be ready to help the Braves pitching staff in 2021.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Braves' 2016 minor league pitcher of the year, Weigel had Tommy John surgery the following year and missed most of 2018 as well. He returned in 2019 with a solid season at Triple-A Gwinnett and saw his stuff return to its pre-injury form. The Braves brought Weigel to the alternate training site in 2020 and called him up for his major league debut on Sept. 4, although Weigel struggled with two hits, two runs and three walks allowed in two-third of an inning against the Nationals.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Weigel's fastball typically sits around 95 mph and has touched 97-98. The pitch is solid-average in longer stints with good carry and running life and can be a plus offering in shorter outings. Weigel worked to reshape his slider into a sweepier pitch with more horizontal break at the alternate site. If the changes hold, the Braves believe Weigel's slider will get more swings and misses and have one of the best sliders in the system. Weigel also throws an average changeup to give him the needed third pitch to start, but his control is fringy.
  
  THE FUTURE: Weigel fits best as a swingman or multi-inning reliever with his stuff playing up in shorter outings. He should be ready to help the Braves pitching staff in 2021.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The organization’s minor league pitcher of the year in 2016, Weigel put himself on a fast track through the minors and pushed to Triple-A in 2017 before blowing out his elbow and having Tommy John surgery that wiped out his 2018 season. Weigel returned to the mound in 2019 and had a successful year while the Braves eased him back into his workload with limited innings and pitch counts.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: His pure stuff got back to the level of his pre-injury self at its best, but the consistency came and went. Weigel’s fastball touched 97-98 mph at his best in shorter outings, but he pitched in the low-90s over longer outings. He paired that with a sharp slider that has the chance to be a plus offering and BA GRADE 50 Risk: Medium BA GRADE 50 Risk: High BA GRADE 55 Risk: Very High will occasionally mix in an average changeup, but that pitch needs more consistency as well. Weigel’s control took a step back in his return and he will need to correct that to profile in a starting role.
  
  THE FUTURE: Weigel has a chance to start, but could be a better fit in the bullpen, as his stuff plays up in shorter outings. The team used him in a reliever role in July and August to end the season.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The organization's minor league pitcher of the year in 2016, Weigel put himself on a fast track through the minors and pushed to Triple-A in 2017 before blowing out his elbow and having Tommy John surgery that wiped out his 2018 season. Weigel returned to the mound in 2019 and had a successful year while the Braves eased him back into his workload with limited innings and pitch counts.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: His pure stuff got back to the level of his pre-injury self at its best, but the consistency came and went. Weigel's fastball touched 97-98 mph at his best in shorter outings, but he pitched in the low-90s over longer outings. He paired that with a sharp slider that has the chance to be a plus offering and will occasionally mix in an average changeup, but that pitch needs more consistency as well. Weigel's control took a step back in his return and he will need to correct that to profile in a starting role.
  
  THE FUTURE: Weigel has a chance to start, but could be a better fit in the bullpen, as his stuff plays up in shorter outings. The team used him in a reliever role in July and August to end the season.
• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Weigel pitched for three schools in college and was a reliever at Houston when the Braves made him a 2015 seventh-round pick. A mediocre pro debut at Rookie-level Danville that year did little to excite the masses before the righthander displayed the ability to throw four pitches for strikes at low Class A Rome in 2016. He wound up ranking second in the organization in wins (11) and ERA and tying for second in strikeouts (152) while finishing the season in Double-A. Scouting Report: Standing 6-foot-6 and possessing a live arm, Weigel has an intimidating presence on the mound. His fastball sits 94-95 mph and touches 98, which is velocity that overpowered most low Class A South Atlantic League hitters. He mixes his heater with a sweeping mid-70s curveball, a hard mid-80s slider with short, downward action and a changeup that is inconsistent but flashes plus potential when he throws it properly. The development of his changeup could determine whether Weigel starts or relieves at higher levels. He also has ironed out most of the control problems that hampered him in college but needs to fine-tune his command.
  
  The Future: A classic late bloomer, Weigel will return to Double-A Mississippi to open 2017 and could be knocking on the door to the big leagues by the end of this season.