Padres sign right-handed pitcher a to a minor league contract, as noted on his MLB.com profile. This marks a return for the talented who pitched for San Diego during the 2022-23 seasons before heading to Japan to join the Yakult Swallows last offseason.
Hiss stint in Japan didn’t go as planned, as he posted a 5.00 ERA over 27 relief innings with the Swallows. His strikeout rate significantly dropped to just 13.56%, a sharp decline from the 26.59% strikeout rate he had accumulated over 374 innings in the minors. While his numbers with the Swallows’ minor league affiliate were stronger, he had already shown promise in the affiliated minors, including a solid 2.79 ERA in 19 1/3 innings with the Padres’ Triple-A team in 2023.
His strong performance at both the Double-A and Triple-A levels earned him a brief MLB debut in 2023, where he made a single appearance on September 24. He struck out two batters and walked two in a scoreless inning during the Padres’ 12-2 win over the Cardinals. That appearance capped off a career that began when he was selected by the Blue Jays in the fifth round of the 2015 draft. Over the years, he has also played in the Red Sox system, independent baseball, and with both the Padres and Swallows.
Although Espada has struggled with control throughout his career, he has generally been able to generate strikeouts, making his struggles in Japan all the more puzzling. A return to Triple-A El Paso could help him regain his form, and from the Padres’ perspective, it adds a familiar arm to their bullpen depth.
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