Jhony Brito Optioned To Triple-A As Nick Pivetta Returns To Padres

[Steve Drumwright]

 

With the San Diego Padres making the return of right-handed starter Nick Pivetta official, two players are paying the price.

Right-hander Jhony Brito was optioned to Triple-A El Paso to make room on the 26-man roster for Pivetta, while Triple-A catcher Blake Hunt was designated for assignment to create a spot on the 40-man roster.

Pivetta, the Padres' Opening Day starter, was officially activated from the 60-day injured list, where he had been since April with a right forearm flexor injury. Pivetta will start Monday's series opener against the Washington Nationals.

Pivetta's return was a bit surprising considering just a month ago, he walked off the mound in his first rehab outing, thinking he had aggravated his injury. But it was only a temporary setback and he made two more rehab appearances and pitched a bullpen over thr week, with the Padres deciding Pivetta was ready to come back.

Brito had been called up Tuesday with rookie catcher Ethan Salas when rosters expanded from 26 to 28. He appeared in two games last week, going 3⅔ innings, allowing one run.

Hunt made his MLB debut for the Padres following injuries to Freddy Fermin and Luis Campusano in June, playing in two games and going 0-for-3. He is a Costa Mesa native who was drafted by the Padres after the second round in the Competitive Balance B round out of Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana.

 

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