Luis Perdomo Should Get the Start on Monday Against the Nationals
Credit: AP Photo
Is it time for the San Diego Padres to consider recalling Luis Perdomo from El Paso? The right-handed pitcher has had success at the Triple-A level and could be in store for a productive 2018 season.
The Padres do not have a starting pitcher listed for Monday at the Washington Nationals due to the fact Joey Lucchesi hit the DL.
It looks like they could be relying on Robbie Erlin for a spot start, but the more productive move could be to call up Luis Perdomo from the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas.
When the Padres sent down Perdomo on April 20, they asked the young right-hander to go work on his command and consistency. Not a surprising request as the 25-year-old has a career 3.3 walks per nine innings. This year, he has he had nine walks in 14 innings with the Padres and has struggled to string together consistent starts throughout his time in San Diego. Fast forward to May 18.
Since his demotion, Perdomo has pitched much better in the hitter-friendly PCL, walking seven in 35 innings in his first trip to Triple-A, not allowing more than three walks in any start, and pitching to a 3.09 ERA.
On top of that, he has strung together a nice line in his last three starts with the El Paso Chihuahuas – going nine innings while allowing one earned run and walking two on May 4, going six innings, allowing two earned runs and walking one on May 10, and going six innings, allowing two earned runs walking one on May 15. On top of that, in his five Triple-A starts, Perdomo has gone six innings in every outing, and his one poor start came against the Salt Lake Bees, where he allowed five earned runs in seven innings, with no walks and eight strikeouts.
After five big-league starts, Eric Lauer has an 8.14 ERA. Luis Perdomo has a 3.09 ERA in five starts in the PCL. https://t.co/WWD7umG59Z
— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) May 18, 2018
To coincide with this move, it appears the Padres are moving Miguel Diaz up to the Chihuahuas. Diaz, who spent the entire season with the Padres last year, has been stretched out as a starter with Double-A affiliate San Antonio Missions. Diaz could slot into Perdomo’s start, as he last pitched on May 14. Diaz has been effective with the Missions, striking out 31 in 24 innings, even though he has not had an outing over four innings. He will continue to get more innings as he builds up his arm strength.
#Padres RHP Miguel Diaz, who has a 2.96 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 24 IP in the Texas League, has been promoted to Triple-A El Paso (@epchihuahuas).
— Jeff Sanders (@sdutSanders) May 18, 2018
It is too early to say that Perdomo has been cured, but it is clear that he has worked on, and completed, in a small sample size, what has been asked of him. Combine that with the move of Miguel Diaz being promoted, and it seems like the perfect storm for the right-hander to make his return to the big league club.
Since he was a little kid he wanted to be one of those guys at the game who had the headset on, listening to the Colonel and Uncle Teddy, he has grown out of that, but the love is still there. Padres’ coverage will be biased at times, but mostly an honest dissection of the team he loves.
Good article Patrick.
I agree with bringing Perdomo up since he has gone down and altered his approach, per request, with good results. It shows the rest of the “hot talent lava” that if you struggle and get sent down and change what they ask you to change that you will reap the rewards. don’t call him up after the success he has had and you risk sending a bad message to the rest of the organization. IMO.
Since player development has long been an issue you need to show that if the player make his adjustments he will benefit, not just give them roster flexibility by having options left. love the direction right now just need to get some consistency on the developmental side.
#WTFM4Life
Hopefully he’s learned how to wear a baseball hat…
Lol. It seems Rodney really took him under his wing a couple of years back in that sense.