Why Bradgley Rodriguez Will Help Shape The Padres' Winter Meetings Strategy

[TomCent]

As sample sizes go, 7 2/3 innings for a pitcher is nothing. We know that no useful projections can be made from that. But sometimes, a team can still see the future during those limited moments -- if it swaps out the data microscope for the long-lamented eye test.

Take the Padres and Bradgley Rodriguez, for example. 

Based on what the team saw from the rookie right-hander last September, it ought to feel confident that he can contribute to the big-league bullpen full time as soon as next March. In turn, it can avoid spending big on a middle reliever this winter and focus on the club's biggest needs: rotation, catcher, and the right side of the infield.

Bradgley Rodriguez's career history

It doesn't take a spreadsheet to determine that Rodriguez has potential. His triple-digit fastball is all anyone needs to see. But if they need more proof, they can also gaze at his power changeup. 

Those two pitches earned him an early-season promotion from Double-A to the Show as a 21-year-old. The Venezuela native made his MLB debut on May 31 against the Pirates and pitched well (1 2/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, stranded both of his inherited runners). Three days later, the Padres optioned him to Triple-A El Paso to make room for right-hander Ryan Bergert.

Prior to his call-up, Rodriguez was No. 9 in Padres Mission's ranking of the team's top prospects. The final sentence of the scouting report read: "His control is still a work in progress, but his high strikeout rate indicates significant upside as a power pitcher."

When Rodriguez returned to San Diego in September, that upside shot way up.

True, there were bumps, like the one he put on Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez's elbow with a 100 mph heater in New York.

Rodriguez hit three batters total last season, with each pitch coming from his arm side, That's a sure sign of command issues. But there also was that wild game against the Brewers at Petco Park on the night of Sept. 22. 

Rodriguez entered in the 11th inning after the teams had traded runs in the 10th. He got three ground balls and, thanks to second baseman Jake Cronenworth, three outs in a scoreless frame.

Minutes later, the Padres were walking off the Crew to clinch a playoff berth. Rodriguez was credited with his first MLB win. The outing was a showcase of the youngster's grit—he did not have an easy road to the majors. He had to fight to save his career as he missed the 2022 and 2023 seasons with elbow problems. Less than two years after returning to action, he was succeeding in a high-leverage role in a playoff race.

Days later, Rodriguez was auditioning for the Padres' Wild Card Series roster. On the final weekend of the regular season, he made two relief appearances against the Diamondbacks. Each time, he was the first man out of the 'pen in the middle innings. He responded with five strikeouts and one walk over 2 1/3 scoreless frames.

The Padres, of course, put him on the WCS roster, but he didn't appear in the three games against the Cubs. Despite that, Rodriguez carries all of that momentum into 2026. He's not your typical 22-year-old pitcher, at least in terms of résumé.

Bradgley Rodriguez's statistics, outlook

Rodriguez's final 2025 numbers for the Padres, small though they are, should leave everyone believing that he can be a difference-maker next year:                                                                                                                                                                       

Category	Rodriguez
Opponents' OPS	.523
Strikeout percentage	29.0
Walk percentage	9.7*
Average fastball velocity	98.3
Strike percentage	59.4
Ground ball rate	56.3
Inherited runners stranded	3 of 4

* Includes one intentional walk. 

Sources: MLB.com, Baseball Reference, Fangraphs

The Padres' top four right-handed relievers heading into the Winter Meetings are Mason Miller, Jason Adam, Jeremiah Estrada and David Morgan. Adam, though, may begin next season on the injured list as he continues to rehab the quad tear he suffered Sept. 1. MLB.com reported last month that he is expected to resume throwing "in the coming weeks." 

After Rodriguez, the other righty options on the 40-man roster are:

Jhony Brito: Missed all of last season recovering from an elbow brace procedure.
Garrett Hawkins: Added to the 40-man last month to be protected from the Rule 5 draft.
Bryan Hoeing: Optioned to Triple-A last July after making seven appearances for San Diego. Is more of a swingman/bulk reliever.
Alex Jacob: Posted a 5.13 ERA in 33 1/3 innings but finished the season strong.
Ron Marinaccio: Finished last season in the minors.
Miguel Mendez: See Hawkins.

The left side features Adrian Morejon (assuming he's not converted back into a starter), Wandy Peralta, Yuki Matsui and Kyle Hart (our Randy Holt recently did a deep dive into Hart's potential as a reliever). Figure three of those pitchers make the Opening Day bullpen—that would leave one open spot in an eight-man unit, although it's more likely to be two spots with Adam questionable. Rodriguez has a clear path to securing one of them.

The Padres will add depth arms in the offseason, but with Rodriguez around, they shouldn't feel obligated to spend a few million or trade a prospect for a middle reliever. After all, they've already seen that he has the tools to do the job.

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