Bryan Hoeing may be a steal for Padres

Newly acquired RHP Bryan Hoeing may be a steal for the San Diego Padres when it is all said and done.

Photo byUSA Today Sports

Heading into the 2024 MLB Trade Deadline, the San Diego Padres needed pitching.

The thought process for most pundits is that the Padres would trade for starting pitching. That did not happen, as the market skyrocketed for the few useful pitchers that were made available by other teams.

For A.J. Preller and his staff- it was time to change gears. The team aggressively went after setup men in an attempt to shorten the game for the Padres when they led. Tanner Scott and Jason Adam are both capable men. Each is capable of closing out games if the Padres need them to. Adding these men to an already-proven group solidified the Padres roster greatly.

In the deal with the Marlins to acquire Scott, the Padres also obtained Bryan Hoeing.

When the dust settles, he may be the best addition the Padres made this trading season.

At 27, the Marlins' former 7th-round pick out of the University of Louisville is starting to show his promise.

Hoeing recorded a 2.70 ERA and a 1.267 WHIP for Miami in 16 games and 30 innings pitched in 2024. With the Padres, the 6-foot-6 pitcher is yet to surrender a run in nine innings and five appearances. He is eating innings in the middle relief and the thought process is that Hoeing may be used in long relief or as a starter in the future.

He is certainly capable, as Hoeing started in the minors before making his way to the majors in 2022.

An interesting aspect of the right-handed pitcher's game is that he gets left-handed batters out at a better rate than righties. Lefties are hitting .146 with a .441 OPS against Hoeing while he is holding right-handed batters to a .630 OPS and a .253 batting average. The native of Batesville, Indiana, is capable of getting through a lineup multiple times and going deep into games.

The best part of the whole situation is that the Padres control Bryan Hoeing through the 2028 season. That gives the Padres four and half years of control for a pitcher who is major league-ready. Hoeing is a valuable commodity. He will be leaned on heavily in the next few seasons.

The fact Hoeing is under control at league minimum (for now) is important, as the Padres are invested heavily in several position players and a few starting pitchers. There is little left in the budget to obtain costly players. They must think outside the box and acquire players who are undervalued. Hoeing is exactly that type of pitcher.

Only time will tell if the Padres "stole" Bryan Hoeing from Miami.

So far. So good- if you ask the Padres.