The San Diego Padres will have multiple rehabbing players eligible to return to the team soon. With Matt Waldron, Griffin Canning, Yuki Matsui and Jason Adam all being placed on the IL at the end of Spring Training (retro to March 22), their 15-day IL expires, Tuesday. Pitchers can have their IL window expanded to 30 days before any move has to be made. This gives Canning and Waldron more time to stretch out as starters and avoids any decision about the rotation until later this month.
Matt Waldron
Waldron has
made two starts for El Paso with seven innings pitched. He has allowed five hits and no runs or walks and nine strikeouts. With increased fastball velocity, Waldron has relied heavily on his sinker and knuckleball (about 60%) while also utilizing his four-seam and sweeper for most of his offerings. He has mixed in the cutter sparingly so far. His last start reached 61 pitches in four innings pitched.
Griffin Canning
Canning made his first start on April 4 for the El Paso Chihuahuas against the Tacoma Rainiers, throwing 2.1 innings and 51 pitches. He allowed three hits and a run with two walks and four strikeouts. His fastball sat 94-96 mph, and he supplemented it with his 86-88 mph slider for about 60% of his offerings. He mixed in his change up and threw his knuckle curve a few times. The velocity on his fastball dropped to 92 mph in the third inning at which point he was removed. He will presumably have a lengthy rehab to build up, and it could look similar to a spring build up for a starter.
Yuki Matsui
Matsui pitched his first rehab inning on April 4 with El Paso, throwing 13 pitches with one hit and no runs, striking out two hitters. He could be ready after a couple more appearances.
Jason Adam
Adam threw his back-to-back games on April 4 and 5 with El Paso, he and Canning were both slated to travel to Tulsa, Okla. to pitch for San Antonio but inclement weather caused them to be re-routed to Tacoma, Wash. and the Chihuahuas. Over the two games, Adam threw 1.2 innings allowing one hit and no runs with two walks. He is expected to join the Padres for the home series versus the Rockies on Thursday. He could pitch on Wednesday, but the team is in Pittsburgh with unfavorable weather expected.
Sung-Mun Song
Song has played in eight games with El Paso with 36 plate appearances. He has nine hits and four walks with a double and seven RBI but has struck out 11 times. He has played 2B, 3B, SS and DH over those eight games but his almost 30% K-rate indicates he could use more time. Song still has a 20-day rehab window to work with, and he can also be optioned to the minor leagues to extend his window.
At the end of the pitchers’ 30-day window (April 21), the Padres will need to make some tough roster decisions but Waldron could be ready before then in case he is needed. With Buehler and Márquez having early issues with their starts, Waldron could be an option before April 21. Canning will need more time to be stretched out but still could be ready in May.
Expect Adam to be used carefully in his return and a member of the current bullpen will need to be sent to the minors to make room for him. Estrada has improved from his early command issues, so Bradgley Rodriquez is the most likely candidate. Adams’ return will allow the Padres to take Wandy Peralta out of any high leverage situations, where he has been dismal so far.
