San Diego Padres sign lottery ticket in Jerad Eickhoff

The San Diego Padres have added an intriguing lottery ticket, adding Jerad Eickhoff on a minor league deal.

As the San Diego Padres look to take that next step into contention, there are still questions involving the pitching staff. Although the bullpen has been revamped and the lineup has been upgraded, there are questions about the Padres rotation.

Around Christmastime, the Padres made an intriguing signing to add some depth to that rotation. Former Phillies pitcher Jerad Eickhoff was signed to a minor league deal with an invite to the major league portion of Spring Training.

There was a time when Eickhoff appeared to be a piece for the future for Philadelphia. His 11-14 record in 2016 belied a solid performance, as he posted a 3.65 ERA and a 1.160 WHiP over 197.1 innings. In that time, he struck out 167 batters while issuing just 42 walks. At 25 years old, Eickhoff looked like a solid middle of the rotation arm for the Phillies.

After taking a step backwards in 2017, everything fell apart for Eickhoff in the subsequent two seasons. Plagued by injuries and ineffectiveness, he made just 15 appearances in that time. Over those 63.2 innings, Eickhoff allowed 19 homers, and was hit for a 5.80 ERA.

Yet, even though he was giving up homers, Eickhoff still showed some signs of promise. He posted a respectable 1.351 WHiP, a number lower than one would have expected given his ERA and home run issues. Eickhoff also struck out 62 batters with just 18 walks, posting a solid 3.44 K:BB rate.

If healthy, Eickhoff could be a solid addition, either at the back of the Padres rotation or in the bullpen as a long reliever. His health is the biggest key, as his carpal tunnel issues caused him to have issues with the grips on his pitches. If his curve is back, Eickhoff could be a steal.

If nothing else, Jerad Eickhoff is a worthwhile lottery ticket for the San Diego Padres. Should he prove to be healthy, that lottery ticket could pay off handsomely.