3 Padres non-roster pitchers to watch in spring training

The day is finally here. San Diego Padres pitchers and catchers are reporting to Peoria, Arizona to officially begin spring training, joining them are a number of non-roster invitees. As the Padres look to add to a weakened starting rotation and bullpen, some of the invitees could find themselves fighting for a spot on the major league roster. Here are three non-roster pitchers you should be looking out for at spring training.

Ryan Och

The 2021 seventh-round draft pick out of the University of Southern Mississippi was the Eagles best reliever during his final year of college, where he struckout 59 over 35.1 innings. The hard throwing reliever brought those high strikeout numbers to his minor league career, where he has posted a ridiculous 14.05 K/9 over three seasons.

A relatively high walk rate is cause for some concern, as his minor league career has seen him average 5.27 BB/9. If Och is able to bring that rate down, he could find himself battling for a position in the bullpen. Spending time at the double-A level with starting pitcher Henry Baez, who is slated to make his MLB debut in 2025, a jump directly to the MLB level for Och does not seem too far-fetched.

J.B. Wendelken

Two years removed from the last time he appeared in a major league game, the Padres signed J.B. Wendelken to a minor league deal that included an invite to spring training in early January. The 31-year-old spent the past two seasons with the Yokohama BayStars of the Japanese league, where he posted a ridiculous 1.57 ERA over 95 games and only gave up 16 earned runs.

Wendelken will be looking to improve on his last stint in the majors, where he appeared in 29 games for the Arizona Diamondbacks, giving up 17 earned runs over 29 innings for a 5.28 ERA. A predominantly backend reliever, Wendelken could sneak into the bullpen with a strong spring training. His .183 opponent expected batting average during the 2020 season was one of the best in the league, where he relied heavily on a 4-seam and slider combo.

Austin Davis

The six year MLB veteran appeared in seven games for the Padres in 2024, giving up seven earned runs in seven innings. A left handed reliever, Davis has struggled with a high 5.77 ERA during his career, but there are still signs of an effective pitcher.

Since the 2021 season, Davis has routinely had some of the best hard-hit percentages, average exit velocities, and ground ball rates in the league. A three-pitch pitcher, Davis throws a sinker, cutter, and sweeper, topping out around 92 with the sinker.