3:45pm: The Friars have now made it official, selecting Hernandez and transferring Sanchez to the 60-day injured list to open a spot on the 40-man. They reinstated Robert Suarez from his suspension and placed left-hander Tim Hill on the 15-day injured list due to a sprained left ring finger.
1:58pm: The Padres are set to select the contract of right-hander Nick Hernandez from Triple-A El Paso, reports Ari Alexander of Houston’s KPRC Channel 2. He’ll make his big league debut the first time he takes the mound.
Hernandez, 28, is a former Astros draftee (eighth round, 2016) who signed with San Diego in minor league free agency this offseason. His first year in the Padres organization has been mostly solid thus far. He’s posted sub-4.00 ERA marks with strong strikeout and walk rates in both Double-A and Triple-A, working to a combined 3.60 earned run average with a 33.2% strikeout rate and 8.2% walk rate in 60 innings.
Hernandez has regularly posted quality ERA marks and missed bats in the minors. Command has been an issue at times, evidenced by a career 11.7% walk rate in parts of three Triple-A seasons –though he’s been quite a bit better in that regard this year. Hernandez will get the opportunity to show the Padres that he deserves a chance to stick at the big league level over the season’s final few weeks. He’ll be able to become a minor league free agent again at season’s end if he’s removed from the 40-man.
The Padres will need to open a spot on the 40-man roster in order to formally add Hernandez to the Major League club. That can be easily achieved at this stage of the calendar, however. Both Ji Man Choi and Gary Sanchez remain on the 10-day injured list despite recently suffering fractures. Choi has been trying to play through his injury in Triple-A and could still feasibly return, but moving either to the 60-day injured list would clear roster space for Hernandez.
Just release Rich Hill!
When you spend your money on frivolous, unnecessary items like a 280 Million dollar SS(when you already have at least 3 SS capable players already rostered), you’re left with post prime scrubs like Rich Hill, to make meaningful starts in August & September.
I think trading for and using Dick Mountain is more akin to having a plethora of pitchers on the IL. Signing Bogey has nothing to do with having to use a Hill in Aug/Sep.
There’s been a big shift in sentiment towards SD this year. After beating the Dodgers in the 2022 playoffs and signing Xander, tons of people were making them automatic locks to take the NL West. Now they won’t even make the playoffs and the narrative is how much they suck and spent frivolously. I would be surprised if SD didn’t rebound with a strong season next year.
Yay to Nick the Stick, nay to Fernando the llama
Could he be the spark the Pobres have been looking for?
Hernandez’s numbers in college and the minors look fabulous.
It doesn’t matter if he plays for the worst team in the league or the best one, he’s making his MLB debut! A wonderfully exclusive club populated by international heroes, great humanitarians and horrible criminals all alike.
I hope his family all gets to see his debut.
I thought Suarez appealed the suspension. Did I miss him dropping the appeal or it getting rejected?
He dropped it 10 games ago.
I have been to both Missions and Chihuahuas games this season and I can’t recall seeing him pitch. His numbers look decent, especially for the PCL.. I hope they translate and he can be an effective part of the pen next season.
He’s a good player, career reliever both at college and minors. Always had good numbers. For whatever reason the Stros never brought him up nor did they ever put him on the roster or had him compete for a job in spring training. Best of luck to him.
Tim Hill is BP.