6 years agoSan Diego Padres starter Chris Paddack continued to impress on Wednesday, recording six strikeouts across four innings against the mostly big-league Los Angeles Angels lineup. He gave up just one run, five hits and zero walks. With 20 strikeouts and a 14.2 K/9, Paddack leads all spring training pitchers in strikeouts. Baseball’s No. 34 prospect was expected to be slow-played into the majors after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2017, but now a spot on the starting rotation seems inevitable. MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell gives Paddack an “80 percent” chance to make the rotation, likely as the Friars third starter. Durability risks linger, but the 23-year-old wowed in the minors last season (2.10 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, 35 percent strikeout rate) with his pinpoint control and killer changeup. Paddack continues to wallow in fantasy drafts with an ADP north of 400, but his appeal is undeniably growing.--Andrew Le - RotoBaller
Source: MLB.com