Why Ty Adcock Might Turn Into More Than Bullpen Depth For The Padres

[TomCent]

Ty Adcock has three things going for him as he joins his fourth MLB organization: 

1. A fun name.
2. A big arm.
3. Winter-league buzz.

Nos. 2 and 3 are mostly why the Padres signed him to a one-year, major league contract less than a week before the start of the 2025 Winter Meetings. 

Adcock is the type of depth reliever teams try to accumulate. Usually, these pitchers can be shuttled between MLB and Triple-A during the season. If a roster crunch hits, they can be cut without much stress.

But Adcock is out of minor league options. The Mets outrighted him last August, and he became a minor league free agent in November. The major league contract is a tell that the Pads think they might have something in the right-hander, who will turn 29 on February 7.

Adcock made just six appearances for New York over parts of two seasons. (Yes, he was one of the record 46 pitchers used by New York in 2025.) He did not enter manager Carlos Mendoza's bullpen circle of trust. In fact, he pitched with a lead just once in those half-dozen outings.

Including his rookie season of 2023 with the Mariners, Adcock has pitched to a career 5.48 ERA (7.18 FIP), with nine home runs allowed in 23 innings. On the positive side, he owns a 4.75 K:BB ratio.  

Maybe the Padres liked the strike-throwing and decided to make a move. More likely, they really liked what he was doing with Estrellas in the Dominican winter league, which until about a week ago was managed by Fernando Tatis Sr.

In nine innings over seven appearances (all in relief), Adcock racked up 15 strikeouts with no walks. His strikeout rate was 41.7 percent, and his K:BB was, well, infinity. (All stats through Dec. 3.) San Diego saw enough to put him on the 40-man roster.

So, what, exactly, does Adcock offer the Friars if not high-leverage experience? 

Heat, mostly.

In Seattle, he was slider-first, followed by the four-seamer. In New York, the pitch mix flipped, and he started throwing a cutter.

(Source: Baseball Savant)

In that transformation was the usual pursuit of added velo. Adcock caught it. Last season, Adcock bumped up his four-seamer average from 96.6 mph to 97.1 mph, while his cutter stayed at 93.1 mph.

And the slider, which he throws equally to right-handed and left-handed batters, checks in at 86.9 mph, giving him good separation. (All velos per Baseball Savant.)

On the downside, the four-seam spin rate is... not elite: 2,172 rpm (he's between Jeffrey Springs and Carlos Carrasco on the Statcast chart). The slider profiles better at 2,199 rpm. The company around him on that pitch is Hunter Brown, Zack Littell, and... Jeremiah Estrada. The cutter, his third pitch, spins at 2,206 rpm, which puts him between Springs, Logan Gillaspie, and Jason Alexander.

So, his stuff is a tick or two below Estrada and other new teammates, David Morgan and Bradgley Rodriguez, but it should still play at the bottom of the 'pen.

To recap, Adcock comes to San Diego with a three-pitch arsenal mix by a high-90s heater and a big showing in winter ball. 

In the spring, he'll try to build momentum while working with pitching coach Ruben Niebla and first-year manager Craig Stammen. Maybe they'll end up with a guy who is no longer Just A Guy.

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[Stuart Shaffer]

Mr. Preller and company probably hope Adcock is the 2026 version of Jeremiah Estrada.

[Brock Beauchamp]

16 hours ago, Stuart Shaffer said:

Mr. Preller and company probably hope Adcock is the 2026 version of Jeremiah Estrada.

That would be the hope. With the departures from the pitching staff, and very little money to replace them, Preller is going to need to win on the margins.