The San Diego Padres have signed right-hander Jose Espada to a minor league contract, marking a reunion between the two sides ¹. Espada, 27, previously pitched for the Padres during the 2022-23 seasons before joining the Yakult Swallows in Japan last offseason. However, his stint in Japan didn’t quite go as planned, with a 5.00 ERA over 27 relief innings and a significant drop in strikeout rate ¹.
Despite his struggles in Japan, Espada has shown promise in the minor leagues, boasting a 2.79 ERA in 83 1/3 frames between Double-A and Triple-A ². He also made his major league debut in 2023, pitching a scoreless inning against the Cardinals. Espada’s minor league numbers are impressive, with a 32.3% strikeout rate, although he does struggle with control, issuing a 12.5% walk rate ².
The Padres’ decision to re-sign Espada to a minor league contract suggests they believe he still has potential to contribute to the team ¹. With a full slate of minor league options available, the Padres can move Espada between San Diego and Triple-A El Paso as needed ².
Espada’s return to the Padres organization may help him get back on track after a disappointing stint in Japan. He’ll likely start the season in Triple-A, where he can work on refining his control and building on his impressive minor league numbers ¹.
The signing of Espada is just one of several minor league deals the Padres have made in recent weeks, as they continue to build their organizational depth ³.
