Luis Perdomo Biggest Loser from Padres Opener?

There were a lot of negatives to be talked about in the Padres Opening Day loss in San Diego to the Dodgers. Tyson Ross struggled, the offense struggled, yet perhaps one bad performance might have the largest long term impact on the Padres. The Padres have several Rule 5 picks on the roster, which means that they have to stay on the roster all season or they go back to the team they came from. Luis Perdomo was one such player and after a rough Spring Training the team was hoping he could turn the switch on for the regular season. He failed to do so.

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Granted by the time he came on in the 7th it was already 8-0 Dodgers. Yet he started things off with a walk to Adrian Gonzalez, which Yasiel Puig followed up with a base hit up the middle. Then Trayce Thompson doubled to left on a low pitch. He did get two strikeouts in between a walk to A.J. Ellis. One more hit and he was able to retire top prospect Corey Seager on a ground ball. Inning over. Not horrible at this point – but not exactly lights out. So Manager Andy Green sent him out for the 8th inning.

His fastball wasn’t fooling anyone anymore. Justin Turner and Adrian Gonzalez led things off with hits, including another double by Turner. He threw a wild pitch before Puig hit a triple to centerfield, which naturally the Padres managed to miss the throw to third allowing Puig to score. Little League-esque. That was the end of the experiment and Colin Rea came in to mop up for the inning.

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Perdomo had never pitched above Single A before yesterday, and it was apparent. He had struggled early in Spring Training before adding a split-finger fastball and looking much better his last few outings. Manager Andy Green said this about Perdomo as reported by AJ Cassavell: “It slowed down the last few times out, and we saw what he is and what he can be,” Green said. “We’re buying what he is and what he can be.”

Unfortunately that did not show on Monday. The Padres are likely to give him a few more chances as they love his future, but what could’ve been an opportunity to salvage some positives on a bust of a Padres opening day was wasted.