San Diego Padres: Trey Wingenter Impressing During Rookie Campaign

San Diego Padres rookie bullpen arm dominated Wednesday night, continuing an impressive rookie season.

On Wednesday afternoon, the San Diego Padres bullpen did something that had never been done before in the live-ball era. According to Friars Figures, a Twitter account that relays fun and interesting statistics from the Padres’ Communications Department, the Padres were the first team to have four different relievers strikeout every single hitter they faced. One of those pitchers was 6’7″ rookie, Trey Wingenter.

Wingenter looked phenomenal in Wednesday night’s outing, striking out the side in his one inning of work against the Seattle Mariners. Using Baseball Savant’s pitch data, Wingenter threw 15 pitches, eight fastballs, and seven sliders. He produced five swinging strikes, hitting 99 mph on the radar gun and averaging 98 mph.

The 99 mph heater was an 0-2 fastball a few inches above the strike zone that sat down Kyle Seager in the sixth inning. Wingenter has been performing well since his call-up to the major leagues but Wednesday night showed fans exactly what kind of pitcher the rookie can quickly develop into.

Overall, Wingenter has logged 14 innings, giving up six earned runs on 10 hits (three home runs), walking six and striking out 20. Since giving up two solo home runs against the Cincinnati Reds on September 6th, Wingenter has five strikeouts, one walk, and no hits allowed in two outings.

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He’s stranding 85% of runners who reach base, striking out nearly 35% of hitters, and limiting opponents to a .192 average. Once he gets a hold of his command and begins to induce more ground balls (50% fly ball rate, 28% groundball rate), Wingenter may be a dominant, powerful force in the San Diego bullpen for years to come.

He is just another reason why the Brad Hand/Adam Cimber trade was a Grade A trade for AJ Preller and the San Diego Padres. He’s also a big reason why the Padres should seriously look into trading Kirby Yates and Craig Stammen in the offseason. The veterans have been solid all year long and have provided valuable help to the young rookies, however, their talent can bring in additional talent to holes that need to be addressed, looking ahead to 2019.

With Wingenter, Jose Castillo, Robbie Erlin/Matt Strahm, Robert Stock, and an unbelievable amount of relief talent in the minor leagues, the Padres bullpen looks to be one of the few positions on the roster that comes with no concerns or big holes to worry about.

The Padres are off on Thursday before beginning a three-game series against the Texas Rangers, back home at Petco Park. Robbie Erlin will toss the first pitch at 7:10 pm.