Michel Baez #34

The native of Havana, Cuba also goes by the pseudonym “The Cuban Missile.”

2020

Recalled from the alternate training site on Aug. 19 and made three appearances (one start) for SD before being optioned back to the ATS on Aug. 30... A career-high-tying three of his four earned runs came in his 1st outing on Aug. 20 vs. TEX... Tossed 2.0 shutout innings on Aug. 25 vs. SEA, striking out four of the seven batters he faced, allowing just 1 walk and no hits while striking out four... Made his 2nd career start on Aug. 29 @ COL, tossing 2.1 innings of 1-run, 4-hit ball... Relied on three pitches: four seamer (55.6%), changeup (41.4%) and slider (3.0%)...Was added to the Padres 40-man postseason player pool but did not appear on their rosters for the Wild Card or NLDS series.

2019

Began his 2019 campaign with Amarillo (AA) before having his contract selected by SD on July 21…was tabbed as the No. 70 prospect in MLB Pipeline's Top 100 and as the Padres No. 5 prospect at the time of his ML debut on July 23 at NYM...Began the season on the Injured List and was reinstated by AMA on May 21...went 1-0 over 5 appearances in July with a 1.04 ERA...did not allow a run in his last 4 outings with AMA...Began his ML career with a career-best 10.1-innings scoreless streak from July 23-August 11, during which opponents went 7-for-33 (.212) with 4 BB and 9 SO… snapped his scoreless streak on August 13 vs. TB after giving up a career-high-tying 3 ER and the 1st HR of his ML career...Posted a 9.0-scoreless inning streak from Aug. 20-Sept. 10, during which hitters went 5-for-34 (.147) with 5 BB and 10 SO... Suffered his 1st ML loss on Aug. 13 vs. TB (3 ER in 1.0 IP) and his 1st ML win on Sept. 10 vs. CHC (0 hits in 1.0 IP)...Held opponents scoreless in 19 of his 24 ML outings and tossed a career-high 2.0 innings on 4 occasions.

2018

Split the campaign between San Antonio (AA) and Lake Elsinore (A), making a total of 21 appearances (all starts) with a 3.69 ERA (43 ER, 105.0 IP)...Began the season with LE, posting a 2.91 ERA (28 ER, 86.2 IP) in 17 appearances and a .229 opponent AVG…he fanned 92 while walking 33...Named California League Pitcher of the Week honors for the week of June 10...Promoted to SA on August 9, and he made his Texas League debut on August 10 vs. Tulsa…finished the season with the Missions, going 0-3 in his 4 starts and owning a 7.36 ERA (15 ER, 18.1 IP) with a .301 opponent clip...Made his 2nd minor league postseason appearance and his first with SA, starting Game 1 of the semifinal game at Corpus Christi and Game 2 of the TL Championship at Tulsa…SA dropped both games, and he pitched a combined 10.2 IP with 7 hits and 6 runs (earned) allowed with 15 SO against 6 BB.

2017

In his first professional season, Baez posted a 2.54 ERA (18 ER, 63.2 IP) in 11 appearances (all starts) between AZL Padres (R) and Fort Wayne (A)...Made just 1 start for AZL Padres, working 5.0 IP and fanning 7…finished the season having fanned 89 batters while walking just 10...Promoted to FW on July 4 and made his Midwest League debut on that same day…opponents hit just .192 (41-for214) against him with 8 HR and 8 BB allowed in his 10 starts and 58.2 IP...Made two MWL postseason appearances (both starts) at Bowling Green and Dayton, going 2-0 and not allowing a single run in 12.0 innings of work.