{{Short description|American baseball player (born 1997)}} {{Notability|date=November 2025}} {{Infobox baseball biography |name = Avery Weems |team = Free agent |number = |position = Pitcher |bats = Right |throws = Left |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|6|6}} |birth_place = Flagstaff, Arizona, U.S. |debutleague = MLB |debutdate = |debutyear = |debutteam = |statleague = MLB |statyear = |stat1label = Win–loss record |stat1value = |stat2label = Earned run average |stat2value = |stat3label = Strikeouts |stat3value = |teams = }}
'''Avery Brian Weems''' (born June 6, 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.
==Career== ===Amateur career=== Weems attended Coconino High School in Flagstaff, Arizona.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carmen |first=Braden |title=Coconino's Avery Weems takes the Arizona Daily Sun's baseball athlete of the year award |url=https://azdailysun.com/print-specific/feature/coconinos-avery-weems-takes-the-arizona-daily-suns-baseball-athlete-of-the-year-award/article_0afc05e7-ff66-5af2-9a6d-13e42016aea6.html |access-date=2022-07-29 |website=Arizona Daily Sun |date=29 May 2015 }}</ref> Undrafted out of high school in 2015, he attended Yavapai College to play college baseball.<ref>{{Cite web |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Local Roundup: Weems keeps Yavapai alive at JUCO World Series |url=https://azdailysun.com/sports/local/local-roundup-weems-keeps-yavapai-alive-at-juco-world-series/article_f067af99-655d-5a6f-9663-fc034f67f1d4.html |access-date=2022-07-29 |website=Arizona Daily Sun |date=June 2016 }}</ref> He posted a 4–1 record with a 3.90 ERA with 61 strikeouts over {{frac|57|2|3}} innings as a freshman in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hartman |first=Mike |title=CHS grad Avery Weems building more than arm strength |url=https://azdailysun.com/sports/local/chs-grad-avery-weems-building-more-than-arm-strength/article_8c63dcb4-4293-5bdd-9d5d-5b08796cf090.html |access-date=2022-07-29 |website=Arizona Daily Sun |date=24 December 2016 |language=}}</ref> In 2017, he went 6–4 with a 2.89 ERA and 87 strikeouts over {{fraction|65|1|3}} innings. Following that season, he transferred to the University of Arizona to play for the Wildcats. Weems went 1–3 with a 5.69 ERA and 39 strikeouts over {{fraction|55|2|3}} innings in 2018. In his senior season of 2019, he went 4–5 with a 7.15 ERA and 47 strikeouts over {{fraction|61|2|3}} innings.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lev |first=Michael |title=Arizona Wildcats senior lefty Avery Weems finally has it all under control |url=https://tucson.com/sports/arizonawildcats/baseball/arizona-wildcats-senior-lefty-avery-weems-finally-has-it-all-under-control/article_338edbf2-f788-581b-ac52-81ad3ac46acc.html |access-date=2022-07-29 |website=Arizona Daily Star|date=11 April 2019 }}</ref>
===Chicago White Sox=== Weems was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 6th round of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft and signed with them for a $10,000 signing bonus.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bergner Jr. |first=Brian |date=June 4, 2019 |title=Former Roughrider lefty Avery Weems selected by Chicago White Sox in MLB Draft |url=https://www.dcourier.com/news/2019/jun/04/former-roughrider-lefty-avery-weems-selected-chica/ |access-date=2022-07-29 |website=The Daily Courier (Arizona) }}</ref>
Weems made his professional debut shortly after signing, splitting time between the rookie-level Arizona League White Sox and Great Falls Voyagers, going a combined 5–4 with a 2.09 ERA and 71 strikeouts over {{fraction|60|1|3}} innings.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Neighbor |first=Fritz |date=August 28, 2019 |title=Pioneer notes: Weems finding his way |url=https://www.milb.com/news/chicago-white-sox-avery-weems-finds-way-with-great-falls-voyagers-310332700 |access-date=2022-07-29 |website=MiLB.com }}</ref> Weems did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Minor League Baseball season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hartzler |first=Lance |title=Avery Weems grinds through pandemic, Minor League Baseball uncertainty |url=https://azdailysun.com/sports/local/avery-weems-grinds-through-pandemic-minor-league-baseball-uncertainty/article_f22363f6-d78e-55be-adc8-97c06b9a1c95.html |access-date=2022-07-29 |website=Arizona Daily Sun |date=28 June 2020 }}</ref>
===Texas Rangers=== On December 8, 2020, Weems and Dane Dunning were traded to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Lance Lynn.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Merkin |first=Scott |date=December 8, 2020 |title='I like to win': White Sox acquire veteran Lynn |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/lance-lynn-white-sox-trade |access-date=2022-07-29 |website=MLB.com |language=}}</ref> During the 2020-2021 offseason, he played for the Atenienses de Manatí of the Puerto Rican Winter League, going 0–0 with a 1.54 ERA and 22 strikeouts over {{frac|11|2|3}} innings.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Newberg |first=Jamey |date=January 27, 2021 |title=Texas Rangers 2020-21 offseason prospect rankings: Part 2 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2347385/2021/01/27/texas-rangers-prospect-rankings-mlb-2/ |access-date=2022-07-29 |website=The Athletic }}</ref> Weems spent the 2021 season with the Hickory Crawdads of the High-A East, going 4–6 with a 5.06 ERA and 124 strikeouts over {{frac|85|1|3}} innings.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grant |first=Evan |date=2022-03-10 |title=Rangers top prospects: Avery Weems could double return from Lance Lynn trade |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/rangers/2022/03/10/rangers-top-prospects-avery-weems-could-double-return-from-lance-lynn-trade/ |access-date=2022-07-29 |website=The Dallas Morning News }}</ref> He spent the 2022 season with the Frisco RoughRiders of the Double-A Texas League, going 2–6 with a 5.14 ERA and 107 strikeouts over 91 innings.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Postins |first=Matthew |date=October 14, 2022 |title=Rangers Top 30 Prospects Wraps: Avery Weems |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/rangers/news/texas-rangers-top-30-prospects-avery-weems-profile-review-offseason |access-date=2022-11-20 |magazine=Sports Illustrated}}</ref>
Weems received a non-roster invitation to major league spring training in 2023.<ref name="Postins">{{Cite magazine |last=Postins |first=Matthew |date=January 28, 2023 |title=Rangers Invite Top Prospects to Spring Training |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/rangers/news/jack-leiter-kumar-rocker-texas-rangers-spring-training-invitation |access-date=2023-02-01 |magazine=Sports Illustrated}}</ref> On February 15, 2023, Weems underwent Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament, and missed the entirety of the 2023 season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grant |first=Evan |date=2023-02-16 |title=Rangers left-handed prospect Avery Weems to miss 2023 season |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/rangers/2023/02/16/rangers-left-handed-prospect-avery-weems-to-miss-2023-season/ |access-date=2023-02-17 |website=The Dallas Morning News |language=}}</ref>
Weems briefly returned to action in 2024, making seven appearances for Hickory and the Triple-A Round Rock Express. He made 34 appearances for the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders in 2025, compiling a 4–1 record and 6.63 ERA with 44 strikeouts and three saves over 38 innings of work. Weems elected free agency following the season on November 6, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2025|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2025/|access-date=November 29, 2025|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}</ref>
===Caliente de Durango=== On May 17, 2026, Weems signed with the Caliente de Durango of the Mexican League.<ref>{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 17 y 18 de mayo de 2026|url=https://lmb.com.mx/noticias/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-17-y-18-de-mayo-de-2026|access-date=May 20, 2026|website=lmb.com.mx|language=es}}</ref> He made one start, giving up no runs and three hits in three innings, before he was pulled from the game due to an injury. He was moved to the injured list, and subsequently released by Durango on May 24, 2026.<ref>{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 24 de mayo de 2026|url=https://lmb.com.mx/noticias/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-24-de-mayo-de-2026|access-date=May 26, 2026|website=lmb.com.mx|language=es}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Baseball stats|mlb=686830|espn=4299997|br=|fangraphs=|brm=weems-000ave}} *[https://arizonawildcats.com/sports/baseball/roster/avery-weems/9816 Arizona Wildcats bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Weems, Avery}} Category:1997 births Category:Living people Category:Baseball pitchers Category:Baseball players from Arizona Category:Sportspeople from Flagstaff, Arizona Category:Yavapai Roughriders baseball players Category:Arizona Wildcats baseball players Category:Minor league baseball players Category:Arizona League White Sox players Category:Great Falls Voyagers players Category:Atenienses de Manatí (baseball) players Category:Hickory Crawdads players Category:Frisco RoughRiders players Category:Round Rock Express players Category:Surprise Saguaros players Category:American expatriate baseball players in Mexico Category:Caliente de Durango players