Talk about a literal case of “taking one for the team.” This is what Saturday’s matchup between the Miami Marlins and the Tampa Bay Rays—a game that didn’t exactly go according to plan for left-hander Ryan Weathers. When we talk about pitchers getting shelled, we usually mean by opposing hitters, right? Not by their own catcher.
In just his fifth start this season, Weathers found himself on the receiving end of an absolute sniper shot—except it didn’t come from a batter. It came courtesy of his own teammate, Nick Fortes. Picture this: during warmups between innings, Weathers finishes his last pitch and casually begins walking off the mound. Meanwhile, Fortes, doing the usual toss-down to second base, lets it rip and BOOM. He drills Weathers right in the dome.
An Unscripted Collision For The Marlins
The ball hit Weathers square in the head, sending him to the ground in visible pain. Trainers rushed out. Fans held their breath. It’s not every day you see a pitcher taken down by a teammate’s throw in the middle of a major league game. But somehow, Weathers shook it off. He gathered himself, got up, and—believe it or not—stayed in the game.
Talk about grit. But the drama didn’t stop with the warmup blooper.
A Short, Rough Outing
After the impromptu beaning, Weathers returned to the mound—but the magic wasn’t there. In just three innings of work, he gave up four runs and never found his rhythm. Whether it was the aftershock of taking a baseball to the skull or simply a bad day at the office, the result was the same: another short outing and another entry in a tough season log for the Marlins.
Trouble in Miami
With this loss, the Marlins fell to 23-38, deep in the basement of the standings. The team has been struggling to find traction all season, and incidents like this—even the accidental ones—seem to highlight how snakebitten things have been. It’s the kind of moment that’s both funny and frustrating, depending on your sense of humor or how many losses you’ve sat through as a fan.
The incident is undoubtedly one for the blooper reel and the medical tent. Hopefully, it’s a minor bruise and not something more serious. Because if there’s one thing Miami doesn’t need right now, it’s more injury headlines.
