San Diego Padres: Chris Paddack could start on Opening Day

With the San Diego Padres having no clear starter to take the mound on Opening, it’s very possible that Chris Paddack, a rookie, could get the nod.

Believe it or not, the Miami Marlins were trying to compete just a few years ago. On June 30, 2016, they were 41-38 and looking to improve their bullpen. On that day, they acquired Fernando Rodney from the San Diego Padres for an 8th-round pick playing in Single-A.

Almost three years later, Rodney is still pitching in MLB at 42, the Marlins are the worst team in the National League, and that 8th-round pick is one of the biggest stories in baseball. His name is Chris Paddack.

Chris Paddack’s tenure in the Padres’ organization started off on a bad note. After three stellar starts for the Padres’ Single-A affiliate, he tore his UCL and underwent Tommy John Surgery. He missed the rest of 2016 and the entirety of the 2017 season.

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In 2018, Paddack returned to form. In a season split between Class A-Advanced and Double-A, he tossed 90 innings, striking out 120 while issuing just eight walks.

Coming into 2019, MLB.com ranked Paddack as the 34th-best prospect in baseball. In the offseason, the Padres unsurprisingly added Paddack to the 40-man roster to avoid him being eligible for the Rule 5 Draft. But still, it seemed pretty unlikely that he would make the Opening Day roster, given that he has pitched fewer than 40 innings above Class-A and fewer than 180 professionally.

This spring, Paddack has changed the narrative.

In 8.2 innings spanning three starts, Paddack has 14 strikeouts against two walks. In his most recent start, Paddack struck out five consecutive Oakland A’s and seven overall. After the game, he told the media that he wants the ball for the Padres on Opening Day.

It’s worth noting that there’s little reason for the Padres to manipulate Paddack’s service time by leaving him off of the Opening Day roster. First, Paddack isn’t the level of superstar as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Also, he’s a pitcher who has had a history of injury, so making a decision about his future free agency seems rather pointless. Most importantly, even if Paddack is a star with the Padres, it’s more than likely that the Padres will option him at some point to manage his innings, which would set back his service time clock.

The Padres don’t have an obvious choice for Opening Day, so it’s very possible that Paddack could get the nod. If he does, he would make history. He would be the first pitcher to make his MLB debut with an Opening Day start since 1938 and just the fourth in history.

Regardless of whether Paddack starts on Opening Day, it’s fair to wonder what kind of impact Paddack will make in the 2019 season. Obviously, he’s not going to pitch 200 innings, and it’s impossible to know what kind of innings limit the San Diego Padres will place on Paddack. But he is mowing down major league hitters in spring training, and he has yet to struggle at any level of professional baseball.

Pitching in the big leagues is much different than any other level. But Chris Paddack seems to have the drive and the ability to be a difference-maker right now. Look for him to pitch opposite Madison Bumgarner on March 28.