THURSDAY: The Padres have released Conrad, according to the team’s transactions page.
Additionally, the Pacific Coast League’s transactions page reveals that the Padres have released right-hander Hector Ambriz. After spending 55 2/3 innings in the Astros’ bullpen from 2012-13, the 30-year-old Ambriz saw just two innings with the Friars this year. Much of his season was spent at Triple-A El Paso, where he posted a solid 3.93 ERA with 7.0 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 in 55 frames. He had signed a minor league deal with the Padres back in Spring Training.
TUESDAY: The Padres announced that they have designated Brooks Conrad for assignment. In related moves, left-hander Frank Garces will be called up from Double-A San Antonio and right-hander Jesse Hahn is on his way back to San Antonio.
Conrad signed a minor league deal with the Padres in January after spending some time in Japan. The infielder has spent the bulk of the year in Triple-A, slashing .278/.349/.529 with 18 homers in 337 plate appearances. In a limited sample size of 34 major league appearances in 2014, he hasn’t been able to produce the same results. For his career, Conrad owns a .200/.271/.660 line across parts of six big league campaigns.
Double A San Antonio…grats Garces! I remember when he was in the DSL and like a 6-1 K/BB ratio. Something like 120 ks in 75 innings or something crazy. He’s the second player to go through the Academy to make it.
Doesn’t make sense to me to send Hahn, one of the most effective SP for the Padres, back down, and to AA of all places. Granted, he hadn’t been above AA, but he’s 25 and doing well! Maybe it’s just to control his arb eligibility, which would be sad if true!
There is no arbitration control once you’re called up. Its to limit his innings. He’s well above his innings total ever in pro ball. Remember, he had TJ surgery, so they don’t want to get him into arm fatigue. Its all precautionary. This way they can bring up another arm to fill a spot in the bullpen.
Sending him down does alter his ML service time, unless I’m missing something. I had forgotten he had TJ surgery and saw an article about needing to limit his IP. So I get the need to move him out of the rotation, but still seems odd to send him back to the minors, if you really think he’s part of your future.
Once you’re called up to the majors and you play one game, your ML clock starts, which affects his arbitration years. That’s all that matters. Only thing it could alter is his innings to be called a rookie or not next year, but I’m pretty sure he’s surpassed that.
The Padres said that they want to control Hahns innings pitched tightly because he has never had more than 69 ip in a season in his pro career prior to this year. That is why he is being sent down. The Missions park and league is more of a pitchers league while the PCL (AAA) is a hitters paradise, so I understand them sending him to AA.
Isn’t there a rule about DFA’ing a guy on the minor league DL?
.200/.271/.660
dingers
I still have Brooks Conrad-induced PTSD.
So he was the guy who had 3 errors in one postseason game?
Preller is cleaning house, it seems. Sounds good
Got scared by that second slash line, his career slugging is actually .389.