As we anticipate the Philadelphia Phillies’ front office to make significant changes to the big league roster this offseason, a subtle yet noteworthy development occurred earlier this week with the signing of a lesser-known minor league pitcher, which largely flew under the radar. Historically, this front office, led by president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and newly appointed general manager Preston Mattingly, has shown a preference for enhancing pitching depth during the offseason.
The Philadelphia Phillies have once again made a move by signing right-handed reliever Nicholas Padilla to a minor league contract, as reported by Steve Potter from Philliesbaseballfan.com. If Padilla isn’t on your radar, that’s understandable; the 27-year-old has only pitched 6 1/3 innings in the majors with the Chicago Cubs and White Sox so far, posting a 5.68 ERA and a concerning 2.21 WHIP.
Despite his previous struggles, Padilla had a standout season in the minors in 2024, which prompted the Phillies to take a chance on him. Over 37 innings in the White Sox’s minor league system, spanning the Complex League (2 2/3 innings), High-A (3 2/3 innings), and Triple-A (30 2/3 innings), he achieved an impressive 2.92 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP while striking out 46 batters.Although the former 13th-round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Rays doesn’t boast high velocity by today’s standards, he effectively utilizes his pitches to generate swings and misses. His arsenal includes a 92 mph cutter and a 94 mph sinker, complemented by a sweeper and curveball that sit in the low 80s.
Despite having a lackluster pitch selection and only throwing 100 pitches in the majors during 2023 while moving between Triple-A and the big leagues, Padilla achieved an impressive 34.1 percent whiff rate. This statistic would place him among the top performers in the league if he had qualified, which he did not due to limited appearances. In his brief stint of 4 2/3 innings, he recorded six strikeouts against just one walk.Additionally, Padilla represented Puerto Rico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, where he played in three games. He secured a win without allowing any runs, giving up just two hits over 2 1/3 innings of relief.It remains uncertain how Padilla will fit into the Phillies’ plans for 2025. He could serve as a depth reliever in Triple-A, potentially earning a call-up when the big league team requires additional arms. With one minor league option left, he might find himself making multiple trips between Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia depending on his performance and the team’s needs.
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