Padres roster review: Sean Poppen

Sizing up the Padres’ 40-man roster heading into the 2023 season: Sean Poppen hoping to stick with Padres after bouncing between Twins, Pirates, Rays and Diamondbacks after the end of the 2020 season

Dec. 5, 2022 5 AM PT

Position(s): Right-handed reliever
2023 opening day age: 29
Bats / Throws: Right / Right
Height / Weight: 6-foot-3 / 210 pounds
How acquired: Claimed off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks in December 2022
Contract status: Made his MLB debut in 2019 and has accrued 1.116 years of service time; the minimum salary in 2023 is $720,000
Key 2022 stats: 2-2, 4.40 ERA, 0 saves, 22 strikeouts, 12 walks, 1.36 WHIP, .265 opponent average, 28 2/3 innings (29 appearances)

6.75 — Poppen’s strikeout rate, per nine innings, while allowing a 4.62 ERA in 25 1/3 innings at Triple-A Reno, the worst of his career. That rate mirrored his work in the majors in 2022 (6.9) after he averaged 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings while pitching for the Pirates, Rays and Diamondbacks in 2021.

Down — The Twins’ 19^th-round pick in 2016 out of Harvard, where he has a degree in chemistry and physics, Poppen forced his way to the majors in 2019 in his Age 25 season and has a 5.08 ERA over 67 1/3 innings spread over four seasons, all in relief. He appeared in four games in 2019 and six more in 2020 before his busiest year yet. The 2021 season began with the Twins waiving Poppen over the offseason. The Pirates claimed him then traded him to Tampa Bay for cash considerations. The Diamondbacks later claimed Poppen in August 2021. All told, Poppen posted a 5.16 ERA over 22 2/3 innings in the majors, striking out 26 batters against nine walks. His numbers were far more impressive in the minors that year as he struck out 37 batters over 34 2/3 innings (2.08 ERA) split between three Triple-A affiliates. Poppen spent all of 2022 in Arizona’s organization, splitting time between Triple-A Reno and two stints with the Diamondbacks. He’s primarily a two-pitch reliever, pairing a 95 mph sinker that he threw 62.2 percent of the time in 2022 with a low-80s slider (34.4 percent). He also thew a mid-80s change 3.4 percent of the time in 2022.

With several open spots on the 40-man roster due to free agency, the Padres claimed Poppen in December ahead of the Winter Meetings. Provided the Padres do not require his roster spot for an addition via free agency or trade, Poppen will head to spring training looking to audition for a spot in the bullpen.