Padres Strike Minor League Deal with New Arm for the Bullpen.
The Padres have agreed to a minor league contract with reliever J.B. Wendelken, according to Robert Murray of FanSided. The right-handed pitcher will join Spring Training as a non-roster invitee.
Wendelken returns to affiliated baseball after spending two seasons in Japan, where he posted impressive numbers with the Yokohama DeNa BayStars. Over 86 innings in Nippon Professional Baseball, he recorded a 1.67 ERA and struck out 22.2% of batters while walking just 8.8%.
Before heading to Japan, Wendelken pitched six seasons in the major leagues, primarily with the Athletics. He had a solid 3.62 ERA in five years with Oakland but struggled after joining the Diamondbacks in 2021. In Arizona, he posted a near 5.00 ERA over 47 2/3 innings, and the team eventually removed him from the 40-man roster in 2022.
With a strong bullpen already forming for the Padres, including late-inning options like Robert Suarez, Jason Adam, and Jeremiah Estrada, Wendelken will likely compete for one of the remaining middle relief spots alongside players such as Sean Reynolds, Tom Cosgrove, and Stephen Kolek.
Leave a Reply