CINCINNATI -- Chris Paddack is fully aware that the start to his 2026 season hasn’t gone according to plan.
The 30-year-old right-hander struggled to find his form in seven appearances (6 starts) with the Marlins, pitching to an 0-5 mark with a 7.63 ERA. Miami designated him for assignment on May 5, and he was released as a free agent five days later.
But baseball is often a game of opportunity, and it came knocking in the form of a Reds’ rotation that has been hit hard with injuries and uncertainty on both the Major League and Minor League levels.
The Reds, already without Hunter Greene (elbow) and Brandon Williamson (left shoulder), had Rhett Lowder go down with right shoulder discomfort. Then, on Sunday in Louisville, Triple-A pitcher Chase Petty, who was slotted to come up and take Lowder’s place, had to leave his game with Louisville early with a fingernail/blister issue. To cap it off, Brady Singer took a line drive off his right foot Tuesday and, while it appears Singer and the Reds dodged a bullet, they still have to be ready for anything.
Enter Chris Paddack.
He signed a one-year Major League deal with the Reds on Wednesday and will throw a bullpen Thursday and start Saturday's game at Cleveland.
“He had a tough time in Florida, and we needed a pitcher,” manager Terry Francona said. “And the hope is that he catches fire and gives us some help, because we've all seen that happen. It's also good that [he’s] a veteran who knows what he's doing, throwing strikes.”
"I was home for about a week, got to spend time with the family and just kind of reset mentally, and got a call [Tuesday] that the Reds are interested, and here we are,” Paddack relayed in front of his new Reds’ locker stall Wednesday. “I’m excited for this opportunity. You look at my stats to start the season, it's not ideal, right? It's never how we want to start. But that doesn't define who you are. And it's pretty cool to see a group of guys like this, front office, coaching staff, players saying, ‘Hey, let's give this guy a chance. We know what he's capable of.’ I want to contribute any way I can, and I’m excited to get back on the saddle."
The Reds are optimistic a change of scenery will do him a world of good. Originally selected by Miami in the eighth round of the 2015 MLB Draft, Paddack has pitched in parts of eight Major League seasons with the Padres (2019-21), Twins (2022-25), Tigers (2025) and Marlins (2026). In 125 career appearances (116 starts), he owns a 32-41 record with a 4.79 ERA (612 1/3 innings pitched) and 556 strikeouts.
With the Marlins, pitches were called from the dugout. Paddack now moves back to the more traditional method of the catchers calling the pitches.
“Fastball, changeup has always been kind of my bread and butter,” Paddack said. “But over the years, I feel like I've added some new pitches. You look at my arsenal to start this season, I had six pitches. We even played around with the seventh pitch there when I was with the Marlins. Now, are they at the caliber that I want them to be? No, but we do have seven options.
“And I’m excited to pick the catchers’ brains here and kind of get back on the old-school format of scouting and all that. The Marlins called pitches from the dugout. That was new for me. I think there's some good to that.”
Paddack split the 2025 campaign between the Twins and Tigers, posting career bests in starts (28), appearances (33), and innings pitched (158). As a member of the Padres in 2019, he was named to Baseball America's Major League All-Rookie Team.
There’s a reason Francona is regarded as one of the best motivators in the game, and Paddack got to experience that immediately upon his arrival in the Reds’ clubhouse Wednesday.
“He broke the ice right away,” Paddack said. “I've heard nothing but good things over the years [about] him as a manager, from all the players. And that says a lot of who he is. I’m excited to build my relationship with him. He shook my hand and he said, ‘I'm excited for you to be a part of this group.’ And sometimes, as players, you know, hearing that from managers that have been around the game for a long time, it means the world to us.”
Paddack clearly has a new perspective and focus in Cincinnati. The Reds are hoping the results follow from when he was one of the top prospects in the Padres organization in 2019.
“Sometimes we forget, especially coming off a season like I've started so far, it's hard to believe in yourself sometimes,” Paddack said. “So, being home for about a week, I was able to regroup, be home with my mom on Mother's Day for the first time in a long time, which was pretty special for me just regroup, and just excited for this opportunity and get back on the saddle.”