Padres News: Lake Bachar earns his long-awaited Major League debut

The San Diego Padres have officially called up right-hander Lake Bachar, who is set to make his Major League debut. This decision comes as the team prepares for their game against the New York Mets. To make room for Bachar on the active roster, the Padres have optioned Logan Gillaspie to Triple-A and outrighted Matthew Batten after he cleared waivers.

Bachar, a fifth-round draft pick by the Padres in 2016, was added to the 40-man roster earlier this month after triggering an opt-out clause in his minor league contract. At 29 years old, he is finally getting his shot in the big leagues after a long journey that included two years lost to injury and the pandemic.

After returning to action in 2022, Bachar showed promise with a 2.69 ERA over 60.1 innings in Double-A San Antonio last season. This performance earned him a promotion to Triple-A, where he has maintained a 4.12 ERA with a solid strikeout rate of 27.6% across 67.2 innings.

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Bachar's success this year can be attributed to the development of a splitter, which complements his fastball and slider. While he has allowed 11 home runs, his overall numbers are respectable for a fly-ball pitcher in a hitter-friendly league. Even if this call-up is temporary, Bachar will officially join the ranks of Major League players once he steps onto the field.