September 22: The Padres have now made it official, announcing they have selected Espada’s contract. Righty Nick Hernandez was optioned to open an active roster spot while Hill was transferred to the 60-day to open a 40-man spot.
September 21: The Padres will promote right-hander Jose Espada to the majors, according to an announcement from the American Association’s Milwaukee Milkmen. The pitcher confirmed the news in a Spanish-language interview with Antolín Ríos of El Nuevo Día. The Padres have a full 40-man roster but a number of players (e.g. Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove and Tim Hill) who are out for the season and can be transferred to the 60-day injured list.
Espada, 26, gets to the majors more than eight years after entering the professional ranks. The Blue Jays selected him in the fifth round of the 2015 draft out of an academy in Puerto Rico. The 6’0″ hurler would spend four-plus seasons in the Toronto system without getting past Low-A. He went to the Red Sox in the minor league Rule 5 draft, topping out at High-A in two years there.
After qualifying for minor league free agency, Espada signed with the Milkmen. He made eight starts in the independent ranks before getting back to affiliated ball on a minor league pact with the Padres. Espada tossed 40 innings of 4.05 ERA ball in High-A down the stretch last season and held his spot with San Diego into 2023.
Espada has divided this year between Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A El Paso. Working mostly as a long reliever, he has put together a sub-3.00 ERA showing at both spots in a breakout season. Between the two affiliates, he’s allowing 2.81 earned runs per nine across 83 1/3 frames. Espada has punched out an excellent 31.4% of opposing hitters against a lofty 12.6% walk percentage.
Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs wrote in July that Espada can miss bats with both his curveball and changeup but has below-average fastball velocity. After a winding road between three organizations and indie ball, he’ll get his first look on a big league staff. Espada can work multiple innings out of the bullpen for manager Bob Melvin.
Seeing if he can listen to coaches and handle stress. No time like the present.
Is this Joe Espada’s son?
No. Joe Espada has two daughters, no sons.
“Between the two affiliates, he’s allowing 2.81 earned runs per nine across 83 1/3 frames”
Okay but what’s his VORP or his stuff minus?
I’m so tired of MLBTR refusing to embrace the stats everyone actually cares about.
Nobody knows what VORP is. They have to make the article relatable.
Forgot my sarcasm font
Haha I just have in mind on the Mighty Ducks movie when he asks them if they know what sarcasm is and the one kid says nooooo
Wasn’t VORP speed was used in original Star Trek?
It was the second choice in Spaceballs but they decided to go with “ludicrous speed” instead!
Only when Chekov was there.
Excellent numbers
You’re all wrong! It’s where Mork is from…come on, man!
What there really saying is literally anyone other than Rich Hill back on the mound
Good for him. Padres should call up a couple more guys for a cup of coffee.
Going to be a lot of change next year for the pitching staff. Padres should see if anyone in minors has something.
Makes sense, but it’s difficult as we see here with Espada. MLB limiting September roster expansions to two players makes calling up players more difficult, unless they’re already on the 40-man roster and they have other players they want to cut/demote from the active MLB roster.
Padres problems begin and end with AJ Preller.
“Between the two affiliates, he’s allowing 2.81 earned runs per nine across 83 1/3 frames. ”
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Unless you are getting paid per word, I think “earned runs per nine innings”: can be reasonably replaced with “ERA”.