Jagger Haynes Among Padres Minor-Leaguers To Become Free Agents

[Steve Drumwright]

 

With the new baseball calendar officially taking effect this week, a number of notable players in the San Diego Padres' system became free agents.

The headliner of that group is left-handed starter Jagger Haynes, Padres Mission's No. 13 prospect. Haynes was the Padres fifth-round pick in the 2020 draft out of West Columbus High School in North Carolina, didn't start his on-field pro career until 2023 due to Tommy John surgery. He made 27 starts and one relief appearance this year between the Double-A San Antonio Missions and Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas with a 5.13 ERA in 135 innings with 61 walks and 116 strikeouts.

He had been eligible for the Rule 5 draft last year and went unprotected. Haynes was the last member of the 2020 draft class, which was just five rounds due to the pandemic, in the Padres' system.

Other noteworthy minor-league players who elected free agency, either from being a six-year minor-leaguer or by signing a one-year contract last offseason, were center fielder Bryce Johnson, who was on the Opening Day roster, first baseman Nick Solak, who made a brief appearance with the Padres this season, right-handed reliever Ty Adcock, right-hander Daison Acosta, outfielder Tirso Ornelas and right-hander Brent Honeywell, who was attempting to make a comeback to MLB.

In a quirk, the Padres went from having two Carlos Rodriguezes on their full-season rosters to none. The Triple-A Rodriguez, an outfielder, and the High-A Rodriguez, a catcher, also elected free agency.

Any of these players could re-sign with the Padres or move on to another franchise.

Here is the list of departing players:

• LHP Jagger Haynes
• 1B Nick Solak
• OF Albert Fabian
• 3B Luis Verdugo
• RHP Sean Boyle
• 2B Victor Duarte
• 2B Clay Dungan
• RHP Ty Adcock
• RHP Daison Acosta
• RHP Logan Gillaspie
• RHP Evan Fitterer
• RF Bryce Johnson
• RHP Hans Crouse
• RHP Brent Honeywell
• RHP Eli Villalobos
• RF Carlos Rodríguez
• C Carlos Rodriguez
• SS Francisco Acuna
• SS Carson Tucker
• LF Tirso Ornelas

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