According to AJ Cassavell of MLB.com, the Padres plan to promote Jacob Nix, and he’ll be making his major-league debut this week. Robert Murray of The Athletic confirmed the news today thanks to his own source.
Nix, 22, is perhaps best known for suffering the collateral damage of the fallout between Brady Aiken and the Astros following the 2014 amateur draft. After the club failed to come to an agreement with Aiken, the number one overall selection, they didn’t have the leftover draft pool money necessary to sign Nix (their fifth-round selection) on the terms they’d originally had in place with him. Ultimately, the two were unable to reach a new agreement, and the right-hander re-entered the draft the following season. He ultimately ended up signing with the Padres after they selected him in the third round of the 2015 draft.
Since then, Nix has risen quickly through the minor-league ranks. Through his first three professional seasons, he met limited resistance despite unspectacular strikeout rates and an average ground-ball-to-fly-ball ratio, posting FIP figures south of four at each level of the minor leagues. Though a groin strain delayed his start to the 2018 season, the righty went on to post a 2.05 ERA across nine starts with the Friars’ Double-A affiliate. He twirled a scoreless outing at Triple-A as well, and the club evidently feels he’s ready to help their depleted rotation at the major-league level.
MLB Pipeline ranked Nix as the Padres’ 14th-best prospect in their most recent rankings. The publication praises his ability to generate easy velocity by way of a “fluid delivery and smooth arm action” that allows him to touch 97 MPH on the radar gun. They also describe his curveball as a second plus pitch, but adds the disclaimer that his inability to miss bats could hold him back at the major-league level. His ceiling looks to be that of a number three starter, according to MLB Pipeline, though they do believe he’ll stick in the majors; his floor is described as that of a back-of-the-rotation starter.
Man I kinda feel bad for this guy taking the shaft.
He got drafted two rounds higher and is getting ready to make his MLB debut for a team that is so far out that he will get plenty of chances to acclimate to the big leagues…I think he’ll be okay.
Hope he does better than Kennedy did. Lamet did well in his Mlb debut
Considering his name isn’t spelled Jaycob, I assume there’s no relation to Laynce or Jayson.
I’m sure Houston will take Bregman and the Championship over Aiken and Nix.
Ya it worked out well for them. I do think they deserve the flak though for kind of screwing this guy over.
I don’t think that was ever an option. Just saying.
Gonna start seeing fruit from prellers guys. Maton was the 1st up. Kennedy wingenter nix all from 2015. Luchhesi and Lauer also from 2016.
But i think preller is trying to showcase guys like kennedy and nix as mlb ready arms to move in the off season as part of a deal for an ace.
Honestly though id offer ifa money to the yankees for sonny gray in the off season and look to rehab him.
Never thought of it like that but that’s not a bad idea. Showcase guys like this now to potential bait a team like Detroit, Toronto or Baltimore who could all use rotation help in the near future trade an ace for 2 guys who can enter their MLB rotation now.
Baltimore needs bodies, Bundy for a couple of these guys makes sense. So does Strohman and so does Fulmer.
If Kennedy and Nix can show promise this could be a nice way to re-invest into the pitching staff without having to give up a major prospect haul for one.
As much as Gray cost them they will look to rehab him before trading. His history may have been impacted by playing in Oakland but he is still a developed arm.
“As much as Gray cost them…”
Yeah, Fowler, Mateo and Kaprielian are just tearing it up aren’t they?
Preller would look incredibly stupid if he traded for Fulmer considering the circumstances.
The Padres will not trade for Fulmer.
Preller supposedly rejected Fulmer over projected elbow health concerns when N.Y. wanted J Upton. The Mets then sent Fulmer to Detroit for Cespedes.
When it comes to elbows, Preller always has at least one up his sleeve.
I could definitely see them doing that. We all saw how they are checking in on various pitchers at the deadline. Maybe in the offseason they’ll put together a package for a guy like Syndergaard.
Gray will cost more than IFA money. His road ERA is still very good.
Sonny Gray has been terrible for at least 3 years
Is there a 40 man spot open or is someone going to have to get DFA’d?
I don’t know but after watching today’s game, I don’t see how Jose Pirela is still on this roster. From getting doubled off at second base on a line drive he wasn’t on his toes for to throwing the ball into the 17th row of the bleachers from second base the following inning to cap what was a rather adventurous day for him. .260 hitters with no power, no speed, no defense on a National League team makes 0 sense.
You know when Carlos Asuaje who was 0 for his last 33! Gets pinch hit for you, you’re bound to be off the active roster. We shall see..
There is one open spot still.
Yes they were at 39 for some time but someone has to go down to el
Paso
Luis Perdomo peace sign emoji
He’s already on the DL genius
He’s on the 10-day DL and still on the 40 men roster genius
Padres need to clear a spot on the 25 man roster, not the 40 man roster. Perdomo isn’t blocking anyone from the 25 man roster.
GENIUS!
Nobody said the Perdomo was blocking anyone on the 25 man roster, you probably don’t know how to read. I don’t know why you would think the Padres would need to space for the 25 man roster either, when they’re obviously not in any hurry. what they do need is space for the 40 man roster, but you probably don’t know much about baseball. please delete your account and go back to school
Probably sending Walker Lockett back to El Paso.
Ya it seemed like last season might have been a nice take off point for Pirela but it’s probably a pretty obvious outlier.
It’s just so bad. But every year we seem to have a guy who is “well liked” by his teammates so the organization feels pressure to keep him. Ala – Amarista for so long. Cut bait Preller geeeeez
At least Pirela was at one point good with us. Phil Hughes is terrible. He needs to go first.
I got so sick of seeing Amarista in a Padres uniform. He festered on the team for too long. Hopefully they won’t make the same mistake with Pirela.
Hughes indeed needs to go and Mitchell should never re-appear on the big league club ever again.
Urias’s inevitable promotion here soon will be the corresponding DFA for Pirela hopefully. He is just so bad, our new Alexi Amarista. Does little but has roster protection up the ying-yang due to being able to hit his weight and can stand around at multiple positions.
The West Coast version of Michael Martinez and Jose Reyes lol
It would be nice to see Clayton Richard get another opportunity to pitch in October but I doubt the Padres part with him due to how they value him with Lauer and Lucchesi’s development, Logan Allen soon to follow.
But, this might be the right time to see if Oakland would like another innings eater to keep that bullpen fresh down the stretch. Richard is a coach at this point on the roster, when your this bad there really isn’t any room to waste on guys who aren’t a part of the future.
Plus he is controllable through next year so the Padres could actually fetch something in return for him.
I’m surprised they’re still doing it. Thought for sure that promotion would get nixed.
The Padres with so many young arms in the rotation is a Starks contrast from what they have been doing. If he can harness his plus fastball and curve, the fans at Petco will be Ewing. His stuff is filthy enough to put in a Mason jar and sell. I do hope that he has a nice pair of Oakley glasses for the San Diego sun…
The Adrian – Reading this post is kind of like driving past a car crash…you know you should just speed up and move along, but you can’t stop yourself from slowing down and staring…Kudos to you for making me read this twice…took me a second…