The Phillies have signed right-hander Nicholas Padilla to a minor league deal, based on the transactions tracker on Padilla’s MLB.com participant profile web page. Padilla has up to date his private Instagram web page to replicate his new staff.
Padilla, 27, was a Thirteenth-round decide by the Rays again in 2015 however struggled considerably within the decrease minors as a starter earlier than ultimately changing to aid in 2019. He pitched nicely at Single-A in 2019, his first full season out of the bullpen, with a 3.48 ERA and a 26.3% strikeout charge in 62 innings of labor. That wound up being his final work within the Rays group, nonetheless, as Padilla didn’t pitch through the cancelled minor league season in 2020 and was chosen by the Cubs through the minor league part of that 12 months’s Rule 5 draft.
The best-hander kicked off his Cubs profession on the Excessive-A degree in 2021 however pitched simply 1 2/3 innings that 12 months earlier than being sidelined by damage. As soon as he was wholesome once more in 2022, he quickly rose by the minor leagues. After dominating the Excessive-A and Double-A ranges early within the season, Padilla discovered himself promoted to Triple-A and pitched wonderful in ten appearances with the Iowa Cubs. In these 14 2/3 innings of labor, Padilla struck out 28.8% of opponents whereas posting a sterling 1.23 ERA. That was sufficient for the Cubs to offer him a style of huge league motion, as he was chosen to the roster and made the twenty seventh man throughout a doubleheader in opposition to the Cardinals.
That huge league cup of espresso lasted only one sport, nonetheless. Padilla pitched 1 2/3 innings of labor for Chicago, the place he surrendered one run on two hits and two walks whereas notching a strikeout, however was designated for task simply two weeks later. That introduced an finish to his Cubs profession as he was claimed off waivers by the crosstown White Sox, although he didn’t make an look for them down the stretch after being optioned to Triple-A Charlotte.
Padilla ultimately made his debut on the south aspect in Might of 2023, however rode the shuttle between Triple-A and the majors that 12 months to make simply three appearances within the huge leagues. His efficiency in each the majors and minors was considerably lackluster, as he posted a 5.79 ERA in 4 2/3 huge league innings and a 5.52 ERA throughout 44 Triple-A appearances that 12 months. He was outrighted off the membership’s roster final November however remained with the membership all through the 2024 season. He posted a 2.92 ERA with a 30.3% strikeout charge in 37 innings of labor this 12 months however didn’t make it to the massive league degree and elected free company earlier this offseason.
Now Padilla will be a part of the fourth group of his profession in hopes of catching on with Philadelphia. For the Phillies, Padilla provides a depth arm for the membership’s bullpen who’s able to pitching a number of innings in aid, a task that might be helpful for them to have depth for given the departure of Spencer Turnbull in free company earlier this month. In fact, the membership’s up-and-coming younger pitchers equivalent to Andrew Painter, Seth Johnson, and Mick Abel might all contribute in that position, or even perhaps bump veteran Taijuan Walker out of the rotation following a troublesome 2024 marketing campaign and into that lengthy aid position. On condition that, Padilla would seemingly must impress in Spring Coaching to snag a 40-man roster spot out of camp or watch for accidents to create house within the membership’s bullpen all through the 2025 marketing campaign.