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While he didn't start for the San Diego Padres on Sunday, right-hander Jeremiah Estrada made a significant impact on the mound. In helping the Padres take down the Yankees 5-2, Estrada made an even bigger fan out of Padres teammate Fernando Tatis Jr.
In just 1.2 innings, Estrada struck out five Yankees and became the winning pitcher of record. Estrada's performance moved his season ERA to 0.59 and had Tatis all sorts of fired up, via the Associated Press.
“He's nasty,” Tatis said. “He's locked in right now, he's pounding the zone, he's not afraid of who's coming to the plate and the guy's believing in himself right now. I'm really happy for him where he's at right now.”
San Diego claimed Estrada from the Chicago Cubs back in November. He had pitched to a 6.75 ERA and a 13/12 K/BB ratio in 2023, leading Chicago to boot him from their 40-man roster. With an overall ERA of 5.51 during his two seasons with the Cubs, it didn't look like Estrada would be a high value waiver addition.
However, the Padres' gamble has paid off handsomely early into the 2024 season. Through his first 11 appearances – consisting of 15.1 innings – Estrada holds a 25/4 K/BB ratio alongside his sparkling ERA. He has earned his first career save in San Diego and appears to be a staple in the bullpen for the time being.
While Estrada can't do it all on his own, Fernando Tatis Jr knows how important he has been in the later innings. At an even .500, San Diego needs as many wins as they can to stay afloat with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.
As long as the right-hander is staying hot, manager Mike Shildt will continue calling his number. When Tatis watches the pitching change take place, he is confident every time Estrada takes to the mound.
Jeremiah Estrada's rise, place in Padres bullpen
Estrada was drafted in the sixth-round by the Cubs back in 2017. The next year he was forced to undergo Tommy John surgery. And in 2020, Estrada missed the whole season due to CO-VID19. But ever the resilient, Estrada's 2022 season saw him go all the way from High-A to Triple-A.
In that timeframe he posted a 1.30 ERA and a 78/20 K/BB ratio while converting seven saves. Estrada earned his first MLB call up the next season and appeared in five games. While it was just five games, Estrada looked impressive with a 3.18 ERA and an 8/3 K/BB ratio.
Unfortunately for him, that didn't transfer over into the 2023. But things didn't end up all bad, as Estrada is now poised to be a key member of San Diego's bullpen.
Robert Suarez has a stranglehold over the closers role, as he has converted 15 saves in 2024. Estrada is the only other Padre to record a save. Adrian Morejon and Wandy Peralta have turned into reliable bullpen weapons with 2.29 and 2.95 ERAs respectively. Yuki Matusi isn't too far behind with a 3.13.
Overall, San Diego ranks eighth in bullpen ERA with a 3.56. But Jeremiah Estrada has proven he can carve out a role. With his dominant performance against the Yankees, the righty has only staked his claim further than he belongs in the major leagues.
Fernando Tatis Jr. is leading the Estrada bandwagon into the next time he gets a late inning opportunity.
