San Diego Padres: Luis Perdomo Is Earning Another Chance

After a disastrous start to the season in the San Diego Padres rotation, Luis Perdomo is showing positive signs down in El Paso.

Luis Perdomo made four starts to begin 2018, lasted barely over three innings per start (14 total), and gave up 26 hits and 15 runs. San Diego Padres Manager Andy Green immediately cut the short leash he placed on Perdomo, and optioned him down to AAA El Paso on April 20th.

The 25-year-old righty has since pitched extremely well, logging four quality starts of his five total. As of May 21st, Perdomo has a 3-2 record with a 3.09 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP. In the 35 innings he has logged he’s given up 25 hits and seven walks while striking out 31 hitters.

While Perdomo’s strikeout rate increased in his two-plus seasons with the franchise, so had his walk rate. Before being optioned this season, Perdomo was walking nearly 12% of hitters he faced. His 5% walk rate in El Paso would qualify as one of the lowest in his career, should that number stick.

Over his five starts, Perdomo has lasted six innings (twice), seven innings (twice) and tossed a complete game on May 4th. The force was strong with Perdomo on that evening, giving up just three hits and one run while striking out six Albuquerque Isotope hitters.

Perdomo is showing progress for the San Diego Padres.

The most impressive aspect of Perdomo’s newest stint is his progression. In his first AAA start, Perdomo climbed the mound in Las Vegas and walked the first three batters he faced. Admittedly, I believed Perdomo was all but officially done as a Padre.

However, he rebounded well in that start, throwing seven innings of four-hit ball and picking up the victory. In the 34 innings since that mess of a first in Las Vegas, Perdomo has issued only four free passes.

His second start came at home in hitter-friendly El Paso. Perdomo proceeded to give up four home runs to Salt Lake Bee hitters. He’s given up four in the three outings since.

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The jury is still out on whether Eric Lauer can remain a consistent option in the rotation. Will Luis Perdomo return in Lauer’s spot should the rookie continue to falter? We don’t know right now, however, what we do know is that Perdomo was optioned to work on his command and find his rhythm. He’s making the most of this opportunity and performing both of those tasks.

Remember, he was a Rule-5 pick that had never pitched above High-A ball. If he can continue to string together positive starts in El Paso, the ground ball artist deserves another shot.