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Padres Add Intriguing Bullpen Arm from Double-A

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports
By Chris Drosehn | Last updated May 30, 2025 7:50 PM ET

The San Diego Padres have made a move to beef up their bullpen ahead of their series on Friday with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Padres have officially selected the contract of Bradgley Rodriguez to the roster. Daniel Alvarez-Montes of El Extra Base was the first to report it. The team confirmed the move and added that LHP Kyle Hart would be sent to Triple-A El Paso to make room on the active roster. No 40-man roster move was necessary, as the Padres had three open slots.

News: The San Diego Padres are calling-up RHP Bradgley Rodríguez from AA-San Antonio, sources tell @ElExtrabase.

Rodríguez, 21, has a 12.5 K/9 and a 6.20 K/BB ratio in 2025.

He is the organization’s #14 prospect, per @MLBPipeline.

— Daniel Álvarez-Montes (@DanielAlvarezEE) May 30, 2025

Bradgley Rodriguez Brings Swing and Miss Stuff

Rodriguez, 21, will get his first taste of big league action. He’s the No. 14 prospect in the Padres farm system, according to MLB Pipeline. He’ll be making the jump from Double-A San Antonio up to MLB.

This season, Rodriguez has thrown 22.1 innings with elite swing and miss stuff. He has 31 strikeouts for a gaudy 12.5 K/9. Command is certainly an issue, but the high velocity is something that teams highly desire.

The right-hander from Venezuela can get the fastball up to 101 MPH, but sits in the upper 90s. Bradgley Rodriguez also has a changeup and is working to add a slider to the mix, but the heater is his best pitch. He’s worked to a 3.22 ERA this season.

He’ll be added to a San Diego bullpen that already features plenty of swing and miss. They have a 24.2% strikeout rate, which is seventh best in the majors. His dominant 2024 paves the way for this call-up after a solid start to 2025.

Kyle Hart Optioned

The Padres decided to option Kyle Hart in a corresponding move. Hart, 32, spent 2024 in the KBO, where he had a 2.69 ERA across 157 innings after struggling in the Red Sox system and bouncing around.

This season, he hasn’t fared as well, with a 6.66 ERA in six starts across 25.2 innings. Unlike Bradgley Rodriguez, Hart has a tough time putting hitters away. In the big leagues this year, he owns a 6.0 K/9.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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