San Diego Padres: Don’t forget Dinelson Lamet is a top of the rotation arm

We talk about San Diego Padres starting pitcher Dinelson Lamet and whether he is being talked about enough as a possible top of the rotation pitcher.

When people discuss the future of the San Diego Padres starting pitching staff, I don’t think enough love is being given to Dinelson Lamet.

Most people will talk about a possible big three of Chris Paddack, MacKenzie Gore, and Luis Patino — and for very good reason.

But let’s not forget about Lamet and the ability that he possesses.

San Diego signed Lamet in 2014 for $100,00 out of the Dominican Republic.

His first full-season of pro ball came in 2015 with the Padres Single-A team. He posted a 2.99 ERA in 105.1 innings over 26 games (24 starts) with 120 strikeouts, a WHIP of 1.20, a K/9 of 10.3, and a BB/9 of 3.8.

The Padres really challenged him as a 23-year-old in 2016 moving him across three levels. He posted a 2.35 ERA in 12 High-A starts and a 3.39 ERA in 14 Double-A starts.

Lamet finished the season in Triple-A with a 5.91 ERA in just two starts.

Overall in 2016 he had a 3.00 ERA in 150 innings with 158 strikeouts, a WHIP of 1.25, a K/9 of 9.5, and a BB/9 of 3.7.

He started 2017 in Triple-A and had a 3.23 ERA in 39 innings (8 starts) with 50 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.33, a K/9 of 11.5, and a BB/9 of 4.6.

With San Diego he made 21 starts in 2017 with a 4.96 ERA in 114.1 innings with 139 strikeouts, a WHIP of 1.24, a K/9 of 10.9, and a BB/9 of 4.3.

The 6-foot-4 righty missed all of 2018 after having Tommy John surgery.

On his way back in 2019 he showed some rust with a 6.00 ERA in 6 Minor Leagues starts with a WHIP of 1.25 in 24 innings, a K/9 of 12.4, and a BB/9 of 3.4.

He settled down once back in the big leagues with a 4.07 ERA in 14 starts with the Padres to go along with a WHIP of 1.27, a K/9 of 12.9, and a BB/9 of 3.7.

Lamet really started to put things together at the end of the year with a 3.60 ERA in his final 9 starts with 75 strikeouts in 50 innings and a WHIP of 1.20.

The 27-year-old had four double-digit strikeout games in four of those last 9 starts.

FanGraphs had him as a 1.3 WAR player in just those 14 starts in 2019 with an xFIP of 3.44.