The Padres announced that they have selected right-handers Garrett Hawkins and Miguel Mendez to their 40-man roster. That protects both of them from being selected in next month’s Rule 5 draft. San Diego’s 40-man roster count climbs to 36.
Hawins, 25, was the Padres’ ninth-round pick in 2021. He pitched 60 innings with a sparkling 1.50 ERA with a massive 35.1% strikeout rate against a 10.1% walk rate. He’s a pure bullpen prospect who returned from Tommy John surgery in 2025 with even better velocity and strikeout rates. Hawkins still hasn’t pitched in Triple-A but is an obvious candidate to get a big league look at some point in 2026.
Mendez, 23, climbed through three levels this season, topping out in Double-A and posting a collective 3.22 ERA, 29.4% strikeout rate and 11.2% walk rate. The Dominican-born hurler draws plus grades for his fastball and slider — the former, in particular — but he has subpar command that still needs refinement if he’s to continue as a starter. For the time being, the Padres have continued to try to develop him in a rotation role; he started 21 games in 2025.
I am surprised that they didn’t add Pena to the 40-man roster.
That doesn’t make much sense to me either. I guess the organization is ok with letting him get picked up by another team.
how many are on the 40 man now with the addition of these two?
Article says 36