Julian Merryweather

Julian Christopher Merryweather

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 4", Weight 215 lb.
• School Oklahoma Baptist University
• High School Junipero Serra High School (San Mateo)
• Debut August 21, 2020

• Born October 14, 1991 in Berkeley, CA USA

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Biographical Information

Pitcher Julian Merryweather was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 5th round of the 2014 amateur draft out of Oklahoma Baptist University. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2018 and was still recovering when he was the player to be named later sent to the Toronto Blue Jays on October 5th to complete the earlier trade of Josh Donaldson to Cleveland. He then only made two appearances in the minors in 2019 as he was recovering from the operation.

He started the 2020 season at the Blue Jays' alternate training site before being called up in mid-August. He made his debut on August 21st, in the first game of a doubleheader against the Philadelphia Phillies, pitching 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief. He played 8 games for the Jays, including 3 starts, with no decisions, an ERA of 4.15 and 15 strikeouts in 13 innings. In 2021 he made the Opening Day roster and recorded his first career save in the first game of the season in impressive fashion: he came in to pitch the bottom of the 10th inning with a 3-2 lead and Aaron Judge on second base as part of the tiebreaker rule and almost managed an immaculate inning as he struck out the side on 10 pitches. His only blemish was a ball on an 0-2 count to Gleyber Torres, before striking him out on the next pitch to end the game. It didn't take him long to record save #2, as it came in his next outing, on April 4th, also against the Yankees, in another dominating performance. One of the keys to his success was that there was a difference of 19 mph between his fastball - clocked in the upper 90s - and his change-up. However, after his fourth appearance on April 13th, he went down with an injury and did not return to the Blue Jays until September 10th, his injury being one of a number that turned a promising bullpen into a season-long work-in-progress. However, in his return, he gave up a three-run homer to Anthony Santander of the Baltimore Orioles in two-thirds of an inning.

Related Sites

• Julian Merryweather on mlb.com