LORETTO, TN — Tuesday, Aug. 4, was a memorable night across Major League Baseball as several players acquired ahead of Monday’s trade deadline made their debuts with new teams.
The night was especially significant in Lawrence County, where two former Loretto High School standouts took the mound as starting pitchers for major league clubs.
Ryan Weathers, a member of the Loretto High School Class of 2018, and Blade Tidwell, a 2020 graduate, both started Tuesday night—an extraordinary accomplishment for two players who grew up in the same small community and once wore the black and gold together.
Weathers and Tidwell enjoyed outstanding careers with the Loretto Mustangs, helping lead the program to a state championship in 2017. Their success continued after high school, eventually carrying both pitchers to baseball’s highest level.
Weathers was selected by the San Diego Padres with the seventh overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, becoming one of the highest draft selections in Lawrence County history. He made his major league debut during the 2020 season and later pitched for the Miami Marlins before joining the New York Yankees during the offseason.
On Tuesday, Weathers made his 22nd start of the season as the Yankees faced the St. Louis Cardinals. The left-hander delivered one of his strongest performances of the year, working six scoreless innings and recording six strikeouts.
The Yankees provided enough offensive support for Weathers to earn the victory, while the former Mustang lowered his season ERA to 3.79.
Tidwell followed a different path to professional baseball after graduating from Loretto. He continued his career at the University of Tennessee, where he became one of the top pitchers in college baseball.
The New York Mets selected Tidwell with the 52nd overall pick in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft. He made his major league debut with the Mets in 2025 before being traded to the San Francisco Giants later that season.
Tidwell made his first major league start of the 2026 season Tuesday night against the Texas Rangers. He pitched five innings, allowing two runs and striking out three batters.
Although Tidwell received a no-decision after the Rangers rallied to win the game, he turned in a solid performance and maintained an impressive 3.18 ERA.
Having two pitchers from the same high school reach the major leagues is a remarkable achievement. Having them start games on the same night makes the moment even more special.
For Loretto, with a population of fewer than 2,000 people, it was another proud chapter in a rich baseball tradition.
From winning a state championship together in 2017 to taking the mound for major league teams nine years later, Weathers and Tidwell continue to represent their hometown, Lawrence County and the Loretto Mustangs on baseball’s biggest stage.
