3 new Padres pitchers to look out for at spring training

With spring training just around the corner, there are plenty of positional battles to look out for this year. Keep an eye out for a few young hitters to make some noise, but let's not also forget about some of the pitchers on the 40-man roster arriving to camp.

Pitchers and catchers are days away from reporting, and to get excited for a new spring, Friars fans should keep Omar Cruz, Ron Marinaccio, and Juan Nuñez on their radar in February and March.

3 new Padres pitchers to look out for at spring training

Omar Cruz

The 26-year-old left-hander is MLB ready. In 86 1/3 innings between Double-A and Triple-A last season, Cruz fired 118 strikeouts, with a strong focus on lowering his walk rate. In the prior two seasons, his WHIP rose above 1.400, but in 2024, he dialed it down to 1.22.

Cruz had a rough September in El Paso, but he was nearly unhittable in July and August, surrendering 23 hits in 39 innings. He could be a wild card in the spring, and his swing-and-miss rate on his changeup could be enough to impress coaches and personnel.

Ron Marinaccio

The right-handed reliever was traded from the White Sox for cash considerations after being designated for assignment by the Yankees in the 2024 regular season. Marinaccio, 29, has three years of MLB experience under his belt, and clearly the Padres believe he can still be a solid contributor. Maybe pitching coach Ruben Niebla, who was given a multi-year deal this offseason, can get Marinaccio back to prime form.

He is a strikeout pitcher by trade, logging a 10.8 K/9 in 114 2/3 career innings. One interesting note is that Marinaccio has never pitched in an NL West ballpark, so the verdict can still be out on him and his potential success in this division. He does have 3 1/3 innings against the Giants in two appearances, tossing six strikeouts without a single hit allowed.

Juan Nuñez

Pitching within the Orioles' organization, the 24-year-old right-hander had a solid 2024 campaign with High-A Aberdeen. He registered a 2.45 ERA across 29 1/3 frames alongside a 38/10 K/BB before ending the season on the injured list with shoulder problems.

Backed by a fastball that could reach the high 90s, Nuñez's contract was purchased in the Rule 5 Draft by the Padres. San Diego just hopes he can rev his fastball back up after being shut down for so long, but there is a lot of potential here, whether he sees MLB time or not in 2025.