San Diego Padres Add To Their Depth; Sign Pitcher

Latching on with the San Diego Padres.

The Padres have signed pitcher Nick Hernandez to a minor-league contract.

#Padres have signed RHP Nick Hernandez to a minor league contract.

— MiLB-Transactions (@tombaseball29) February 3, 2023

Hernandez elected to explore the free agent market this winter after spending his entire minor-league career with the Houston Astros' organization.

Last season, over 64 innings with Triple-A Corpus Christi, the twenty-eight-year-old posted a decent 3.66 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 85 strikeouts. He made 51 relief appearances and held a 5-5 record. 

Hernandez will likely begin the season at Triple-A El Paso, but if he impresses we could see him make his major-league debut sometime this season.

For his minor-league career, Hernandez holds a strong 2.94 ERA over 236 innings and 164 appearances. 

He is a former eighth-round pick by the Astros in the 2016 MLB Draft.
Photo Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports