Baseball: South Elgin grad Weiss drafted by Arizona in 4th round

South Elgin native Ryan Weiss said it was "unreal" to see his name scroll across the television screen as a fourth-round draft pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday afternoon.

The 21-year-old pitcher was selected 129th overall in Major League Baseball's first-year player draft.

"I'm just excited, so happy," said Weiss, who watched at a friend's house in South Elgin. "Seeing my name go on the bottom of the television was like playing a video game but you're playing as yourself. I couldn't believe it."

In 16 starts as a redshirt sophomore for Wright State this spring, the 6-foot-4, 205-pound right-hander went 9-2 with a 3.40 ERA in 98 innings. He struck out 92 and walked 18.

Weiss and adviser Marc Pollack of Sports One Athlete Management, Inc. were told by various scouts to expect a call anywhere between Rounds 2-7.

"Then the draft started and there were a ton of high school guys getting picked," Weiss said. "And there were a ton of guys I knew. I'd look at my sister and say 'I played with him. And I played with him. I'm happy for him.'

"When the 123rd pick was on the board, my adviser called me and said Arizona was going to take me with their next pick."

Weiss has two semesters of eligibility remaining at Wright State but intends to turn pro.

"Everything I've done to this point is to go to the next level and play pro ball," he said. "I'm ready. Right now I'm going to soak in the moment and live in the present. This is a day many kids dream of and I have myself. I'm just going to enjoy it."

With Arizona, Weiss could end up as a Kane County Cougar where he would be mentored by South Elgin native and Larkin graduate Rick Short, who is the Cougars' hitting coach.