REPORT Padres signed Another right-hander to League Contract

The Padres recently signed right-hander to a minor league deal, as noted on his MLB.com profile. This marks a reunion for the 27-year-old, who previously pitched for San Diego during the 2022-23 seasons before spending the last offseason with the Yakult Swallows in Japan.

Espada’s stint in Japan didn’t go as planned, as he posted a 5.00 ERA over 27 relief innings with the Swallows, while his strikeout rate dropped sharply to 13.56%, a significant decline from his 26.59% career strikeout rate in 374 minor league innings. Although he performed better with the Swallows’ minor league team, Espada had already proven his ability in affiliated minors, including a 2.79 ERA over 19 1/3 innings with the Padres’ Triple-A affiliate in 2023.

Strong performances at the Double-A and Triple-A levels earned Espada a brief MLB debut in 2023. On September 24, he pitched a scoreless inning with two strikeouts and two walks during mop-up duty in San Diego’s 12-2 win over the Cardinals. That outing stands as a highlight in a professional career that began when the Blue Jays drafted him in the fifth round in 2015. Espada has also spent time in the Red Sox system, independent leagues, and now with the Padres and Swallows.

While Espada has struggled with control throughout his career, his ability to generate strikeouts has been a hallmark, making his diminished numbers in Japan somewhat surprising. Returning to the Padres’ Triple-A affiliate in El Paso could help him rediscover his form, while providing the Padres with a familiar option to bolster their bullpen depth.