Nick Pivetta gives Padres strong effort against NL West rival in spring debut

Nick Pivetta's debut with the San Diego Padres went as smooth as fans could have wished for. Signing with the Friars late in the offseason, it looks like the 32-year-old right-hander hasn't missed a beat on the mound.

In 2 2/3 scoreless innings against the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday at Peoria Stadium, Pivetta walked one batter and twirled four strikeouts - including three in the first inning - and did not surrender a hit. Following a four-game losing skid in spring training, the Padres are ecstatic to see Pivetta already get locked in.

Nick Pivetta gives Padres strong effort against NL West rival in spring debut

Pivetta went through the Giants' lineup one full time, pitching from the stretch in each at-bat. He logged 40 pitches, including 25 strikes. Against the nine batters faced, Pivetta dialed up a first-pitch strike six times.

He already looks comfortable in a Friars uniform, especially after working with pitching coach Ruben Niebla all spring, including in his warmup bullpen on Tuesday. Niebla is hopeful of turning Pivetta into a stud, and the former Red Sox starter seems to be well on his way to becoming one.

Against the Giants, two of Pivetta's strikeouts came from a fastball, while one each came from a curveball and a sweeper. His ability to get outs with different pitches in varying locations already is a tremendous sign of what's to come for Pivetta. He's the organization's biggest addition to the 2025 season, so for him to signal off a few green flags out of the gate is exactly what the fans want to see.

The batters who Pivetta struck out were some of the better Giants players, too. His final punch-out came against Casey Schmitt, who only has 90 career strikeouts in 130 MLB games. Pivetta also set down Jerar Encarnacion, who has been on fire at the plate. He entered Tuesday's contest with 10 RBIs in seven spring games.

Pivetta began the afternoon with a dotted up fastball on the outside half against leadoff man LaMonte Wade Jr., who also does not strike out often. Following that at-bat, Pivetta set Jung Hoo Lee down on three pitches.

Known for his intense demeanor on the hill, Pivetta quickly showed his personality. Leaving a few fastballs high in the zone, the right-hander had no problem displaying his displeasure towards himself. That intensity, matched with his performance in his San Diego debut, is exactly what this club needs to steer the ship in a positive direction going into the new season.