Padres News: Randy Vasquez Recalled by Padres to Face St. Louis Cardinals

The San Diego Padres are set to recall right-handed pitcher Randy Vasquez for their Monday matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals. This move comes as the team looks to fill a spot in the rotation after optioning Lake Bachar following Sunday’s game.

Bachar, who was called up for a potential major league debut, did not see any action during his brief stint with the team.

He is the last player from the Padres’ 2016 draft class to make it to the majors. This season, he has posted a 4.12 ERA over 67.2 innings at Triple-A El Paso, primarily working as a reliever since recovering from Tommy John surgery in 2022.

Vasquez, who has made 17 starts for the Padres this season, holds a record of 3-6 with a 4.63 ERA and 53 strikeouts over 81.2 innings.

He was sent down to Triple-A on August 9 and has struggled to find his form, remaining winless in the minors this year. In his last outing with the Triple-A affiliate, he allowed six hits and four earned runs in four innings, bringing his minor league record to 0-5.

The 25-year-old made his MLB debut on April 20 against the Toronto Blue Jays, stepping in when both Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove were injured.

His performance has been inconsistent; he has had some strong outings but has also given up five or six runs in several games. Over his last three starts with the Padres, he has pitched 12.2 innings, allowing 13 hits and 10 earned runs.

Before joining the Padres, Vasquez was part of the New York Yankees organization, where he signed as an international free agent in 2018.

He made his Triple-A debut in 2023, finishing with a 2-7 record and a 3.90 ERA over 25 starts. He was traded to the Padres in a deal that included notable players like Juan Soto and Trent Grisham.