The Padres signed right-hander to a minor league deal earlier this month, according to his MLB.com profile. This marks Gillaspie’s second stint with the organization after being non-tendered in November to free up space on the 40-man roster.
The 27-year-old posted a 4.10 ERA across 26 1/3 innings and 28 appearances for the Orioles during the 2022-23 seasons before being claimed off waivers by the Red Sox in September 2023. However, Gillaspie didn’t see any major league action with Boston and was subsequently claimed by San Diego two months later. With the Padres, he endured frequent Triple-A shuttling, being optioned the maximum five times, which may have affected his performance. He finished with a 7.15 ERA in 11 1/3 innings over nine appearances at the major league level.
On a more positive note, Gillaspie delivered solid results in Triple-A, recording a 3.77 ERA, a 21.5% strikeout rate, and a 9.7% walk rate over 45 1/3 innings for El Paso. These stats are particularly impressive considering the hitter-friendly environment of the Pacific Coast League and represent an improvement over his prior Triple-A seasons. Still, his strikeout rates have declined, and his walk rates have slightly increased over the past two years.
As Gillaspie is out of minor league options, the Padres would need to expose him to waivers to send him back to Triple-A if they add him to the active roster in 2025. This could result in another year of uncertain roster moves, including potential DFAs and outright assignments. For now, he remains a depth option for San Diego’s minor league bullpen.
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