Julian Christopher Merryweather Bio
Julian Christopher Merryweather is an American professional baseball pitcher who has played in Major League Baseball for the Toronto Blue Jays and Chicago Cubs. Born on October 14, 1991, in Berkeley, California, Merryweather developed his pitching skills at Junípero Serra High School before advancing through the college baseball ranks at Skyline College and Oklahoma Baptist University. The Cleveland Indians selected him in the fifth round of the 2014 MLB Draft. Despite facing significant injuries throughout his professional career, including Tommy John surgery that cost him the entire 2018 season, Merryweather has continued to pursue his major league ambitions as a relief pitcher.
Early Life and Background
Julian Christopher Merryweather was born on October 14, 1991, in Berkeley, California, a city in the San Francisco Bay Area known for producing competitive baseball players. He attended Junípero Serra High School in San Mateo, California, where he developed into a promising baseball pitcher during his high school years. His early success on the mound laid the foundation for his pursuit of professional baseball.
Path to Professional Baseball
After graduating from high school, Merryweather continued his baseball development at Skyline College before transferring to Oklahoma Baptist University. In two seasons with the Bison, he established himself as a dominant college pitcher, compiling a 22-5 win-loss record with a 1.73 earned run average and 208 strikeouts. His exceptional collegiate performance caught the attention of professional scouts, leading to his selection in the 2014 MLB Draft.
Julian Christopher Merryweather Career
Cleveland Indians (2014-2018)
The Cleveland Indians selected Merryweather in the fifth round of the 2014 Major League Baseball Draft. He made his professional debut with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, posting a 1-2 record with a 3.66 ERA in 13 appearances. In 2015 with the Lake County Captains, he logged a 4.08 ERA across 70 2/3 innings pitched. The 2016 season saw him split time between the Lynchburg Hillcats and Akron RubberDucks, where he went a combined 13-6 with an impressive 2.60 ERA in 24 starts. He began 2017 with Akron and earned a promotion to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers during the season. Across both levels that year, he combined for a 7-9 record with a 5.32 ERA in 25 total appearances. The Indians added him to their 40-man roster following the season.
Injury struck during the 2018 spring training when Merryweather damaged his pitching elbow. The Indians announced he would require Tommy John surgery, forcing him to miss the entire 2018 season and significantly derailing his development trajectory.
Toronto Blue Jays (2020-2022)
On October 5, 2018, the Blue Jays acquired Merryweather as the player to be named later from the trade that sent Josh Donaldson to Cleveland. He spent 2019 making just two minor league appearances before the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the minor league season, leaving him without a team affiliation for the year.
Merryweather finally reached the majors when he made his MLB debut on August 20, 2020, against the Philadelphia Phillies. He appeared in 13 games with Toronto that season, compiling a 4.15 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 13 innings pitched. An oblique strain sent him to the injured list in May 2021, and he did not return until September. He made 13 appearances with the Blue Jays in 2021, posting a 4.85 ERA with 12 strikeouts and recording two saves. Another oblique injury landed him on the injured list in July 2022. He finished that season with a 6.75 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings across 26 total appearances. The Blue Jays designated Merryweather for assignment on January 10, 2023.
Chicago Cubs (2023-2025)
The Chicago Cubs claimed Merryweather off waivers on January 17, 2023. In his debut season with Chicago, he emerged as a reliable member of the bullpen, appearing in 69 games with a 3.38 ERA and 98 strikeouts across 72 innings of work. His strikeout rate and durability represented his most consistent major league season to that point.
The 2024 campaign brought fresh injury challenges. Merryweather opened the season with a 1.93 ERA in four appearances before suffering a right shoulder strain in early April. Further testing revealed a rib stress fracture, and he was transferred to the 60-day injured list before being activated in late July. He returned to make 15 appearances but struggled to a 6.60 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 15 innings. The Cubs announced in September that he would undergo patellar tendon debridement surgery on his knee, ending his season. He made 21 appearances in 2025, going 0-1 with a 5.79 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 18 1/3 innings. The Cubs designated him for assignment on May 24 and released him on May 30, 2025.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a year of transition for Merryweather following his release from the Chicago Cubs organization in late May. He signed with the New York Mets in early June and joined their Triple-A affiliate, the Syracuse Mets. With Syracuse, he appeared in 12 games and logged a 1-0 record with a 4.50 ERA, 15 strikeouts, and two saves across 12 innings of work. The Mets released him on August 2, 2025. He subsequently signed with the Milwaukee Brewers organization later that month, joining their Triple-A Nashville Sounds. Merryweather appeared in 11 games with Nashville but struggled to a 7.36 ERA with 16 strikeouts across 11 innings. He elected free agency following the conclusion of the 2025 season.
Career Statistics
Across his MLB career with the Toronto Blue Jays and Chicago Cubs, Merryweather has compiled a 6-7 win-loss record with a 4.72 earned run average and 177 strikeouts in 98 total major league appearances. His career has been defined by flashes of potential offset by recurring injury setbacks that have limited his ability to establish himself at the highest level.