A look at the San Diego Padres bullpen race for 2025
Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
A quick look at the San Diego Padres bullpen and where it stands right now.
The San Diego Padres bullpen was a huge factor in their success throughout the 2024 season.
Most of those players are returning,. With the exception of Tanner Scott, who left for the Dodgers this past offseason.
As it stands, there will be a couple of spots open in the pen as Bryan Hoeing and Sean Reynolds are set to miss the beginning of the season due to injury.
Robert Suarez, Jason Adam, Jeremiah Estrada, and Adrian Morejon are all guaranteed a spot to start the season. Yuki Matsui and Wandy Peralta are also returning as well to the bullpen. That leaves two spots open for the rest of the pitchers competing this spring.
Some of the players contending for this on the active roster include Alek Jacob, who has an inside track due to his contributions to the big leagues last year. He has also started strong this spring with four strikeouts in two innings. He does not throw hard, yet his release is so funky and very effective.
Tom Cosgrove also had experience last year in the major league bullpen but has had a less impressive start to his spring. He has been hit hard across his three appearances this spring, with an ERA sitting at 23.14 and a WHIP at 3.00.
Rule 5 draft pick Juan Nunez has yet to make an appearance this spring. He will need to have a strong showing due to the crowded state of the bullpen. He also has yet to pitch above High Single-A in his career. Nunez stands at 5-foot-11 and has a three-pitch mix with his fastball sitting in the mid-90s.
Jhony Brito also had experience in the bullpen last year. He is also reportedly under consideration to be the 5th starter as well. Brito has had a strong spring so far. In two appearances, he has an ERA sitting at 3.00 with a WHIP at 0.67.
Ron Marinaccio is also a candidate to be there on opening day. He was traded from the Chicago White Sox this past offseason. So far this spring, he has appeared in four games with an ERA sitting at 2.45 and a WHIP at 0.55.
Other non-roster invitees have looked very strong this spring as well, such as Bradgley Rodriguez, who was the Padres No. 12 prospect in 2024. Last year, he went from Low Single-A all the way up to Triple-A and is now doing well this spring. So far this spring, he has appeared in three games and has a perfect ERA sitting at 0.00 and a WHIP also at 0.00.
Eduardiel Nunez is another name to watch. The Padres signed him after he elected free agency from the Cubs system. In three appearances this spring, he has a 0.00 ERA and a WHIP that is sitting at 1.33.
Lastly, there is Francis Pena, who was the Padres No. 14 prospect in 2024. So far this spring, he has appeared in three games with an ERA of 3.00 and a WHIP of 1.33.
All things considered, the Padres have a lot of options for the backend of their bullpen, and they are expecting to get Reynolds and Hoeing back roughly a month into the season. The bullpen in 2025 has a lot of depth and will help the Padres make another push for a championship this season.
