Padres reliever Trey Wingenter underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on Friday, according to AJ Cassavell of MLB.com. The procedure will force Wingenter to miss all of the 2020 season and likely the majority of 2021.
Wingenter’s surgery represents a blow to the depth of the San Diego bullpen, which will already be without lefty Jose Castillo for the next six or so weeks. Flamethrower Andres Munoz also fell victim to Tommy John surgery in March.
That said, the Friars’ bullpen should still be a strong unit, with the acquisitions of Drew Pomeranz, Emilio Pagan, and Pierce Johnson strengthening the supporting cast behind Kirby Yates. The trade for Tim Hill is looking like a timely move, and Gerardo Reyes, Javy Guerra, and Cal Quantrill are on board as depth options.
Wingenter, 26, was a core piece in the Padres’ bullpen last year, appearing in 51 games. He’s a strikeout specialist, averaging 12.7 K/9 in his first 70 career innings. Despite that, he ran a high 5.65 ERA last year, in part due to high walk numbers, and perhaps due to some bad luck: although the ERA is inarguably unimpressive, he managed a solid 3.61 FIP last year, indicating that Wingenter’s talent is deserving of a better mark.
Unfortunately, further development to the righty’s game will have to wait until late next season, at best. Without a doubt, it’s an untimely procedure for a young pitcher who looks to be coming into his own at the Major League level.
He was pretty solid in 2018 but didn’t do much in 2019. Maybe something happened to his arm last year.
This week’s trade for Hill was surely completed with this in mind. Props to Preller for keeping that strong bullpen intact. It’s a major key to their post-season chances.
I was going to say that it had nothing to do with losing Wingenter because Hill can’t get righties out but then I looked at the stats and weirdly enough, Wingenter has reverse platoon splits and can’t get righties out either so yeah, this basically does fill the hole caused by losing Wingenter.
Ya for sure tell that to all the negative bloggers who are saying it was a bad trade its evident they don’t understand baseball its pitching first, Hill cannot hurt this team and possibly make a big difference in the long run.
LMAO. HE. SUCKS! get it through your ignorant head.
Hill is a soft tossing sidearmer. Pretty much the exact opposite or the fireballing Wingenter. Preller has a love affair with those submariners.
Looks like he got unlucky in 2019. His splits were slightly better in 19 than 18.
I’m pretty happy with the bullpen and rotation. If they score 4+ runs per game, they will be tough to beat
With Tatis, Pham and Manny 1, 2, 3 hitters we should have some runs scored, now if Hoz and Myers can hit a lick it could be exciting.
Actually the weak link is the SP, we have two decent SP’s the rest are question marks. AJ knows that as well as AJ continues to bolster the BP.
I’m not a Padres fan but they have built a pretty fun team to watch
I’m a Dodgers fan and agree. Tatis is as much fun to watch as any player in the game. Paddack, too. And to think they’re just getting started.
The Hill trade makes a little more sense now.
Damn! Get well soon. Love this guys energy on the mound
Called it
Pads still have a nice bullpen with Pomeranz, Pagan, Guerra, Yates and Co. Wonder if the they will take a look at Shaw or McGee?
Quantrill is a starter tho
Not this year. He’s gonna be the long man out of the pen.
Don’t think so
This could possibly open the rotation for Gore to be on the 26 man roster, hope it happens. We need that guy in our rotation badly.
lol
I’m surprised the trolls haven’t blame The Angels
He was garbage
No big loss. Wingenter blows, Padres don’t need him
Relievers that walk batters need to grab some bench. Wingerter with 5+ era is not good enuff. Get a haircut. Wigs for kids!
wigenter sucks & shouldn’t have pitched an inning for us anyways.
hill sucks too. a LOOGY with a 3.6 ERA in his best year at age 30? dude will be out of the league in 2 or 3 years.
reyes is the definition of a gas can. that guy shouldn’t be on the roster of ANY professional baseball team anywhere in the world. period.
Good luck and have a nice, healthy rehab, Trey.