The Padres announced that they have selected right-hander Aaron Northcraft from their alternate site, placed injured left-hander Adrian Morejon on the 60-day IL and optioned righty Nabil Crismatt.
This promotion puts Northcraft in position to make his major league debut at the age of 30. Northcraft was a 10th-round pick of the Braves in 2009, but they traded him to the Padres five years later in a December 2014 deal that also sent outfielder Justin Upton to San Diego. The Braves acquired four players in return, including left-hander Max Fried.
Northcraft only lasted in the Padres’ system through 2016, during which he began dealing with elbow problems that sidelined him for a couple of years. He finally returned to pitch professionally with the Mariners in 2019, when he combined for a stingy 2.03 ERA in 40 innings divided among the Low-A, Double-A and Triple-A levels.
Northcraft spent time with the Marlins last year, but the lack of a minor league season stopped him from logging any game action. He returned to the Padres on a minor league deal this past winter.
nice to see him finally get a shot. i think he’ll do well.
Aaron Northcraft has been called to replace Nabil Crismatt. Are they playing in the Hogwarts league?
Their hybrids would Nabon Criscraft and Aaril Northmatt
now THOSE are Harry Potter names
Northcraft is a living personification of Jimmy V’s “Don’t give up” ethic.
Is it just me or does Nabil Crismatt seem to get promoted or demoted around three times per week?
A lot of the Padres bullpen is out of options so they really don’t have that many guys eligible to be sent down. Crissmatt is going to keep getting those frequent flier miles.
All Crismatt does is perform well and then get moved up and down. Just like he did with the Cardinals. It’s hard for guys with options when they are young and performing well, who seem to run out of luck when the run out of options.
the element of surprise might be his secret to success, never know when he might make a MLB cameo so teams can’t prepare. Sort of like 100-year floods and city planners.. Suddenly BAM, it’s Crismatt
With a nice germanic surname to boot
2 guys that sound like they were characters in a Sherlock Holmes mystery.
“Holmes suspected Nabil Crismatt, in the death of Aaron Northcraft”.
But it turns out it was Colonel Sebastian Morejon.
Max von Fried
Northcraft is closing in on 31. Only pitcher that comes to mind is Satchel Paige who debuted in MLB at a later age. I’m sure there’s a long list though. Feel free to school me.
Jim Morris, the guy that movie “The Rookie” is about was 35 I believe.
I think it’s probably a little more common than we would expect for that 30-31 year old range, but I can’t really think of anyone off the top of my head.
its actually not too rare, but its rare for someone who hasnt played any foreign/indy ball. Northcraft has remained in affiliated ball for his entire career if I remember correctly. Matt Bush is kinda in that boat but a different case obviously.
Recognized his name almost immediately as a LL Braves fan.
Fantastic opportunity to see time in the MLB – just hope his MGR ‘Bobby Cox’s him’ and doesn’t F him like most ML MGRS. #Playthemwhenup_MLB
well, being a “phantom major leaguer” is it’s own distinction.
For those interested, a pretty good article on some of the older rookies to ever debut in the game. Many are former Negro League players but many are not. The article dates back to 2013 but is a good starting point.
prestonjg.wordpress.com/2013/09/15/the-oldest-play…
somebody made a list on BBREF that has the 5 guys to debut past the age of 40. it’s an interesting group to say the least.
My dad wanted me to ask why not McKenzie Gore?
@ icant. Probably service time manipulation plus Gore didn’t have a good spring training.
The service time date is past. It is either they want him to get a bit more seasoning or they mean it when they say they will only bring him up when there is a hole in the rotation.
@FredMcGriff for the HOF like Steve said, the service time date has already passed. And Preller doesn’t do service time manipulation anyway.
Gore clearly wasn’t ready as of last Spring Training. Although I would have said the same thing about Ryan Weathers (higher ERA and BAA in Spring) and that didn’t stop them from calling him up and he has obviously risen to the occasion since then. Maybe Gore would as well?
The team has been saying since last year that they’re only using Gore in the rotation, not in the bullpen.
He’s barely pitched at all above single-A, so they probably also want him to get a handful of starts in the high minors.
Is he going to start? His recent history doesn’t suggest that.
No way. Tingler said yesterday that Weathers is in the rotation so they have 5 SP right now even with Lamet on the IL.
Good luck Aaron Northcraft!
If this whole pitcher thing doesn’t work out he can start his own micro brewery. Northcraft Beer. Perfect city to do so.