Ryan Weiss is shaping up to be a strong candidate for a starting position. He pitched against the New York Mets on March 14, and the Astros won 8-2, with Weiss delivering a solid performance.
Manager Joe Espada was pleased with his outing. Could Weiss have a shot at a rotation spot?
Weiss, 29, spent the past two seasons pitching in Korea for the Hanwha Eagles, where he revitalized his career with strong performances. In 2025, he went 16–5 with a 2.87 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP, and 207 strikeouts over 178⅔ innings, per KBO. He is expected to compete for a rotation spot or serve as a long-relief option, giving the Astros flexibility early in the season.
Weiss’ journey to the Astros is a story of perseverance both on and off the field. Born in South Elgin, IL, the 6’4” pitcher began his baseball career early on. He originally started as a catcher but switched to pitching in late high school, eventually developing into the pitcher he is today. His velocity wasn’t enough to draw the attention he needed to continue playing in college. He originally committed to play at Elgin Community College, but later changed his commitment and went to Wright State University.
He was drafted by the Diamondbacks in 2018 out of Wright State. Weiss has made 132 minor-league appearances between Arizona and Kansas City, including time in Triple-A from 2021 to 2023, and he also pitched in Taiwan for the Fubon Guardians in 2023 before joining the KBO. His minor-league stats weren’t eye-catching, but his strong overseas performance earned the Astros’ attention.
Weiss has also experienced severe hardship early in his life. Despite losing both parents at a young age, Weiss channels his personal hardships into his drive on the field.
Since joining the Houston Astros, Weiss has continued to impress, proving to be a solid addition to the team. Not only is he a consistent pitcher, but he also brings unique experience. Playing all over the world is not something many players can say. At just 29, he has already had an interesting career and he is just getting started.
Now, in Spring Training with the Astros, Weiss is showing excellent command and consistency on the mound, impressing coaches with his ability to limit baserunners and keep hitters off balance. His performance is making a strong case for a spot in the rotation or as a key long-relief option early in the season.