5 Greatest San Diego Padres Pitchers of All Time

The No. 1 pick in 1988, Benes debuted a year later and pitched to a 3.51 ERA in 10 starts. He spent the next five-plus seasons with the Padres, averaging 12 wins, a 3.51 ERA, and 3.7 bWAR from 1990 through 1993.

Benes placed sixth in 1991 NL Cy Young voting after posting 15 wins and a 3.03 ERA over 223 innings. The Padres traded him to the Mariners in July 1995, and he bounced around the majors until throwing his final pitch in 2002.

4. Andy Ashby (1993-1999; 2004)

Note to self: Start using Ashby in Immaculate Grid, given that he played for five teams over 14 seasons. However, he’s best known for his eight seasons in San Diego, where he went 70-62 with a 3.59 ERA and made two All-Star teams. 

Ashby played a pivotal role for the 1998 NL champion Padres, winning a career-high 17 games and starting four playoff games.

MORE: Ranking the 5 Greatest Padres Hitters Ever

3. Randy Jones (1973-1980)

Don’t read too much into Jones’ 92-105 record in San Diego. The man was a workhorse, averaging a 3.30 ERA and 221 innings during his eight Padres seasons.

And while we acknowledge that he went 8-22 in 1974, he was one of three Padres starters to throw over 200 innings on a 102-loss team.

Jones took a monumental leap in 1975, going 20-12 with a 2.24 ERA and finishing second in NL Cy Young voting. Although his bWAR dropped from 7.5 to 4.7 in 1976, his 22 wins and 25 complete games earned him the first Cy Young in Padres history.

2. Jake Peavy (2002-2009)

We mentioned Immaculate Grid earlier, so here’s a key tip: Do not use Peavy for 40 Wins Above Replacement, because he finished at 39.2 bWAR. He’s a member of the Moisés Alou Club. 

In all seriousness, Peavy went 92-68 with a 3.29 ERA and 24.8 bWAR over his seven-plus seasons in San Diego. He captured the 2007 NL Cy Young after winning 19 games, recording a 2.54 ERA, and striking out 240 hitters for a Padres team that narrowly missed the postseason following a controversial Game 162 loss to the rival Rockies.

1. Trevor Hoffman (1993-2008)

There aren’t many teams leaguewide where you’ll see a closer make their top five all-time pitchers, let alone the top three. Mariano Rivera is likely the only exception, and understandably so, given that he’s the greatest closer in baseball history. 

Not only does Hoffman have longevity on his side when it comes to Padres pitchers, but his sustained excellence helps, too.

Despite not becoming a full-time closer until his age-26 season, Hoffman recorded 552 saves and a 2.76 ERA during his time in San Diego. He became the first pitcher in league history to top 500 saves, and he had three top-five NL Cy Young finishes. 

There’s certainly an argument for Peavy here, but we’re sticking with Hoffman. No sense watching him come out to “Hell’s Bells” with intentions of making us look silly.