Padres notes: Rule 5 pick Stephen Kolek eager to prove himself; El Paso Chihuahuas set roster

Earlier than the Padres plucked Stephen Kolek out of the Mariners’ farm system within the Rule 5 draft in December, he’d been flipped from the Dodgers to Seattle in a minor transaction in April 2021.

The best way that commerce had been offered to Kolek was as a courtesy transfer. The Dodgers had been out of spots and the Mariners had been keen to take him in, however the phrases of the transaction had been going to stay a thriller till Kolek compelled his manner into the majors.

That was the deal provided by former Mariners pitching coach Max Weiner, now the pitching coach at Kolek’s alma mater at Texas A&M, and that momentous event arrived final week within the Seoul Collection.

Among the many congratulatory texts was the reply Kolek had lengthy questioned:

Kolek value the Mariners … $1.

Contemplate it a footnote in an unlikely path to a contender’s bullpen as a Rule 5 decide.

“I’m extraordinarily happy with that,” Kolek stated. “It’s nice to go searching the locker room and see plenty of expertise we now have right here, and to be part of it’s a particular factor. I’m simply grateful to be right here and excited to get to work … and show myself.”

It’s unlikely as a result of contending groups often aren’t out there for minor leaguers who can’t drive their manner onto different groups’ 40-man rosters. Often, Rule 5 picks are upside performs that rebuilding groups try and stash within the majors.

Luis Perdomo. Jabari Blash. Allen Cordoba. Luis Torrens. Miguel Diaz.

These had been the gamers that Andy Inexperienced was handcuffed to because the Padres tore down A.J. Preller’s first try and construct a winner.

The chance for Kolek is kind of totally different. Mike Shildt’s Padres count on to contend, and with Steven Wilson traded away within the mid-March Dylan Stop deal there’s a large gap in center aid that’s up for grabs.

“Shildty, each time I’ve talked to him, it’s just like the roles of the bullpen this yr are slightly extra up for grabs,” Kolek stated. “There aren’t any dead-set roles as to who’s going to go in when. Simply be prepared for any alternative.”

Towards that finish, Kolek compelled his manner into the Padres plans by putting out seven over 6⅔ shutout innings this spring after a crash-course introduction to the group that noticed him get married in January, take part in Joe Musgrove’ pitchers camp three days later and head to spring coaching not lengthy after that.

At the least the Seoul Collection supplied Kolek and new spouse Jessica with a mini honeymoon (TBD on the true factor) amid a memorable MLB debut.

With the Padres utilizing seven relievers in that first recreation in South Korea, Kolek was referred to as into the eighth inning of a late-and-close recreation. He coughed up two runs in two-thirds of an inning, however nonetheless handed a result in Robert Suarez, the one proprietor of a set position within the Padres’ bullpen up to now.

Kolek’s future within the group is way from assured, as he should stay on the Padres’ lively roster or be provided again to the Mariners as Blash and so many others have been through the years as Rule 5 picks.

For now, Kolek is completely satisfied to be competing for his spot within the pecking order within the Padres’ new-look bullpen.

“There’s rather a lot you will get caught up in,” Kolek stated. “I’m simply attempting to stay to the method of doing what I can to organize each day and take it someday at a time. The remainder of it’s going to type itself out.”

Triple-A El Paso units roster

With the Triple-A season starting Friday, the El Paso Chihuahuas introduced their roster with an anticipated however noticeable absence: Woo-Suk Go.

Whereas Go had been optioned to Triple-A El Paso through the Seoul Collection, it remained unlikely that he would begin his season within the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League as an alternative of a far safer touchdown spot at Double-A San Antonio. The truth is, the one pitcher in MLB.com’s top-30 Padres prospects headed to El Paso is reliever Alek Jacob (19).

The complete Chihuahuas roster follows:

Pitchers (18): RHP Lake Bachar, LHP Daniel Camarena, LHP Ryan Carpenter, LHP Austin Davis, RHP Jeremiah Estrada, RHP Matt Festa, LHP Paul Fry, RHP Logan Gillaspie, LHP Jay Groome, RHP Nick Hernandez, RHP Alek Jacob (19), RHP Kevin Kopps, LHP Adrián Morejón, RHP Gabe Mosser, RHP Sean Reynolds, RHP Randy Vasquez, RHP Nolan Watson.

Catchers (3): Kevin Plawecki, Chandler Seagle, Brett Sullivan.

Infielders (4): Matthew Batten, Clay Dungan, Mason McCoy, Nate Mondou.

Outfielders (5): Bryce Johnson, Tim Locastro, Oscar Mercado, Cal Mitchell, Tirso Ornelas (30).