Jhony

Brito

It’s a procedural move that probably shouldn’t be legal but it is. It clears a spot on the 40-man roster to allow the Padres to select the contract of Nick Ahmed rather than having to designate someone for assignment. Brito will compete for a roster spot for the Padres in 2025.

Brito pitched well Saturday with 2 1/3 scoreless frames against the Marlins, but the Padres will go with a fresher arm in the bullpen. In this case, it’s Sean Reynolds, who was recalled in the corresponding transaction.

Brito replaces fellow Juan Soto trade acquisition Randy Vásquez on the roster. He had a 4.25 ERA in 41 1/3 innings out of the Padres pen before being sent down in late June. He returned to the rotation in Triple-A, but he got hurt last month and he had pitched just one inning over two starts since returning, giving up six runs — two earned — and walking five. As a result, we’re guessing this will be a short stay.

Brito, a product of the Juan Soto trade, had spent the entire season in the Padres pen, posting a 4.35 ERA and a 26/9 K/BB in 41 1/3 innings. We’ll see if the Padres stretch him back out as a rotation candidate in Triple-A or if they keep him in the pen and call him up next time there’s a need.

The Dylan Cease acquisition left the Padres with just one opening in the rotation, and the team picked Matt Waldron over Brito and others for the spot. We’re skeptical that Waldron will prove to be the answer there, so maybe Brito will claim a rotation spot in a month or two. In the meantime, Brito figures to bide his time in Triple-A.

Brito appears locked into the fifth spot in San Diego’s season-opening rotation at this moment and put the finishing touches on an impressive spring in this one. The 26-year-old righty doesn’t offer a ton of appeal for fantasy managers outside of deeper mixed leagues and NL-only formats, but he’ll be worth keeping on early-season watch lists as a potential streaming option.

Jhony Brito will take the ball for Sunday’s exhibition opener against the Korean national team with Cease toeing the rubber for at least two or three innings to kick off Monday’s showdown against the LG Twins of the Korea Baseball Organization. The 28-year-old former AL Cy Young Award runner-up was acquired earlier this week from the White Sox in exchange for three prospects and reliever Steven Wilson. It’ll be Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove starting this upcoming week’s season-opening Seoul Series contests against the division-rival Dodgers.

It’s the second straight start in which Brito has fanned six batters. He scattered four hits on the afternoon while also issuing three walks. The 26-year-old hurler was able to work himself out of trouble though, keeping the Angels off the scoreboard completely. He looks to have the inside track at one of the available spots in the Padres’ rotation, as he has compiled a 2.08 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and a 16/3 K/BB ratio over 13 innings of work through his first four Cactus League appearances.

Brito was sent to San Diego in the blockbuster trade that sent Juan Soto to the Yankees. His performance against the Cubs on Monday is something the Padres hope is a sign to come for the 2024 season. Brito went 3 and 1/3 innings and despite his five hits allowed, he was able to hold Chicago to zero runs. Brito was joined by Matt Waldron as another San Diego pitcher to toss six strikeouts. Waldron is fighting for one of the final spots in the starting rotation for the Padres.

The 27-year-old hurler is in camp fighting for one of the final spots in the Padres’ Opening Day rotation, and he may have given himself a leg up with Friday’s performance. Jhony Brito — who he is battling against (along with Pedro Avila, Randy Vasquez and a host of others) — started the game and surrendered two runs on three hits over his two innings of work. It may behoove the Padres to add another veteran arm or two before Opening Day.