SAN DIEGO -- The Padres began a particularly grueling stretch on their schedule by calling on one of their top pitching prospects to reinforce their bullpen.
Right-hander Bradgley Rodriguez had his contract selected by the Padres ahead of Friday’s series opener against the Pirates, the start of a stretch in which San Diego will play 26 games in 27 days. Left-hander Kyle Hart was optioned to Triple-A El Paso in a corresponding move.
Rodriguez checks in as the No. 14 prospect in the Padres’ system per MLB Pipeline and their top ranked reliever. He’s posted a 3.22 ERA at Double-A San Antonio this season, with 31 strikeouts and just five walks across 22 1/3 innings pitched.
“I just feel very gracious,” Rodriguez said through interpreter Jorge Merlos, speaking before Friday’s game. “No one else knows beside myself all the work I’ve been able to put into my career in general. I just feel grateful that I’m able to be here.”
The Padres' bullpen started the season strong, but recently hit a rough patch, posting a 5.62 May ERA (after a 1.77 mark through the end of April).
The 21-year-old Rodriguez brings a high-octane, upper-90s fastball that he pairs with two other weapons, a changeup and a slider. Signed out of Venezuela in 2021, Rodriguez rose quickly through the Padres system. He turned heads this spring in his first big league camp, portending a callup at some point this summer.
“I just feel happy enough that all these guys were able to take me in,” Rodriguez said. “They’ve really treated me like I’m part of the family from day one. From day one of Spring Training, I was able to have that kind of relationship with everybody.”
As for Hart, he had been recalled earlier this week after Michael King landed on the injured list with what was revealed Friday to be a pinched nerve in his right shoulder. Hart’s demotion leaves the club without a No. 5 starter ahead of a crucial stretch. Among those 26 games, 14 are against the division-rival Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Giants.
It’s unclear who would start on Tuesday in San Francisco, when the fifth spot in the rotation comes up next. Hart and Omar Cruz were both recently sent down, ruling them out as options. Matt Waldron made a rehab start on Friday, seemingly ruling him out as well. That could leave No. 21 prospect Ryan Bergert as the likeliest choice.
In any case, with such a critical stretch of games ahead -- and so few off-days -- the Padres might shuffle and reshuffle their pitching staff quite a few times in the coming weeks. It began on Friday.
AJ Cassavell covers the Padres for MLB.com.