South Elgin grad Weiss completes journey to majors, but still work ahead
Every year brings another example of how there's no set path to reach the major leagues.
Pitcher Ryan Weiss graduated from South Elgin High School in 2015 and was drafted by Arizona three years later out of Wright State. By 2021 he was in Triple-A and on the verge of getting called up, a process that continued after being claimed by the Royals.
But that call didn't happen, so Weiss spent the 2024 and '25 seasons in Korea, becoming a star with the Hanwha Eagles. After producing a 2.87 ERA last year, he signed with the Houston Astros and finally made that MLB debut on March 27 at age 29.
“Honestly, it was cool,” Weiss said of his debut, according to the Houston Chronicle. “But it was also kind of nice to get it over with.”
Facing the Angels in his debut game, Weiss took the mound for the ninth inning. His first pitch bounced in the dirt and Zach Neto parked the second pitch into the left field boxes for a home run. Weiss then walked Mike Trout and gave up a single, but retired the next three hitters, two on strikeouts.
“When I gave up the homer there was a part of me that just kind of had to laugh,” Weiss said that night. “Because it was like, you only get one first batter. And that’s definitely something I’ll remember. I wish I didn’t give up a homer, but it’s part of the game.”
Weiss' first month in the big leagues has been challenging. Through Thursday, he was 0-2 with a 6.65 ERA. Those numbers aren't much different from Anthony Kay, a pitcher the White Sox brought back from Japan this year and still making the adjustment. Weiss has worked mostly out of the bullpen, but started twice, since the Astros had three pitchers from their opening week rotation hit the injured list.
Maybe better times are ahead. Weiss went on the paternity list Thursday, as he and his wife, Hailey, are expecting their first child. He's also said the couple loved living in South Korea, so there's always a silver lining.
Two other local players made returns to the majors this week. Nicky Lopez (Naperville Central) is back with the Cubs after starting the season with the Rockies' Triple-A squad in Albuquerque.
Third baseman Brett Harris (Hersey) is back in the majors for the third straight year. He was called up by the Athletics on Tuesday when Max Muncy suffered a broken hand. …
Here's a rundown of some local minor-leaguers, now that the 2026 season is beginning to take shape.
Moving up
The Mariners seem to be trying to fast-track right-handed pitcher Ryan Sloan (York) to the majors. In his second pro season, two years removed from high school, Sloan, 20, started the year at Double-A Arkansas. Last summer he posted a 3.73 ERA and 10 strikeouts per nine innings between Seattle's two Single-A teams. Sloan is rated the Mariners' No. 3 prospect, No. 28 overall, by MLB Pipeline. …
Right-handed pitcher Jack Wenninger (Cary-Grove) stepped up to Triple-A with the Syracuse Mets and has made his presence felt, with a 2.16 ERA through four starts. A sixth-round pick out of Illinois in 2023, he's the Mets' No. 6 prospect. …
First baseman Luke Adams (Hinsdale Central) made the jump to Triple-A this year with Nashville. Drafted out of high school in 2022, he's the Brewers' No. 12 prospect. …
Right-handed pitcher Ashton Izzi (Oswego East) was a high school teammate of White Sox pitcher Noah Schultz. Last year, he was traded from the Mariners to Diamondbacks. Now at Double-A Amarillo, he is Arizona's No. 18 prospect. …
Catcher Cooper Johnson (Carmel) made his Triple-A debut last summer and is back with the Texas Rangers affiliate in Red Rock. He was drafted by the Tigers in 2019 out of Ole Miss. …
Right-handed pitcher Jack Mahoney (St. Viator) is back for a second year with the Rockies' Double-A team in Hartford. After two solid starts to open the season, he's on the injured list.
Getting started
Shortstop Henry Kusiak (Grant) had a hot start with the independent Long Island Ducks, signed a deal with the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday and will head to Single-A Fort Myers. Kusiak was an all-star last year with the Chicago Dogs after playing in college at Missouri Southern State. …
Right-handed pitcher Casey Hintz (St. Viator) pitched in relief for Arizona in the College World Series last year. Drafted by Mariners in the 16th round, he's playing for the High-A Everett Aqua Sox. …
After logging four years at Loras College and one at Iowa, catcher Daniel Rogers (Grayslake Central) is getting a chance with the Single-A San Jose Giants. …
Two local players drafted in 2024 are in High-A: Former Illini catcher Cam Janik (Wauconda) is playing mostly in the outfield for Greensboro, N.C., in the Pirates system; while right-handed pitcher Ethan Dorchies (Cary-Grove) is with the Brewers' Midwest League entry, Wisconsin.
Shortstop Jude Warwick (Downers Grove North), chosen by the Tigers in the 12th round out of high school, is at Single-A Lakeland. … Right-handed pitcher Joe Glassey (Lakes) signed with the Orioles as an undrafted free agent out of Illinois in 2024 and is at High-A Frederick. …
Outfielder Jaden Fauske (Nazareth), second-round pick of the White Sox last year, is off to a decent start at Single-A Kannapolis, hitting .268 through 19 games. Fauske is a Willowbrook native. …
Infielder Nolan Clifford (Neuqua Valley) is on the voluntary retired list, according to milb.com. He was drafted by the Rockies out of Creighton in 2024 and played 67 games at three levels last year.
Doubling up
Catcher Cole Conn (St. Charles East) is at Double-A Midland in the Texas League. He was a 12th-round pick of the Athletics last year out of UIC. … Outfielder Clark Elliott (Barrington) is also with the Midland RockHounds. He was a second-round pick out of Michigan in 2022. …
Catcher Ryan Ignoffo (Cary-Grove) is at Double-A Pensacola. He was drafted out of Eastern Illinois by the Marlins as a two-way player, but hasn't pitched since 2023. He hit .322 in 34 games at Pensacola last summer. … Left-handed pitcher Emmett Olson (Maine West), a fourth-round pick of the Marlins in '23, is on the 60-day injured list for Single-A Beloit.