Jason Adam Returns to Padres as Jeremiah Estrada Heads to IL with Elbow Tendinitis

In a dramatic turn of events on Friday night, right-handed reliever Jason Adam made his return to the San Diego Padres, just in time for their game against the Colorado Rockies. This comeback comes after a lengthy recovery from quad tendon surgery that sidelined him since last September. Less than an hour before the first pitch, the Padres reinstated Adam from the injured list while placing struggling pitcher Jeremiah Estrada on the 15-day IL due to elbow tendinitis.

Adam, who had shown readiness during spring training, was handled with caution by the Padres, considering his importance as an eighth-inning specialist. Last season, he posted an impressive 1.93 ERA over 65.1 innings before his injury. To prepare for the rigors of an MLB season, he pitched five innings across four games with Triple-A El Paso, including outings with back-to-back appearances and multiple innings.

Following another thrilling walk-off victory for the Padres, manager Craig Stammen addressed the media, expressing a desire for a “soft landing” for Adam as he returned to the mound. However, with reliever Adrian Morejon faltering and allowing a two-run lead to slip away in the eighth inning, Adam was called upon to secure the final out. He delivered, throwing just five pitches to induce a groundout and preserve the tie.

The decision to demote Estrada was not difficult for the Padres, given his recent struggles. His velocity has dipped, and his command has not been up to par, resulting in a 5.14 ERA over seven innings in seven appearances. Stammen noted that Estrada experienced discomfort while throwing earlier in the day, leading the team to suspect tendinitis and hope that rest and rehabilitation will resolve the issue.

Meanwhile, right-handed pitcher Matt Waldron continues his slow progression in Triple-A El Paso after recovering from hemorrhoid surgery that kept him out for much of spring training. On April 8, he delivered another scoreless outing, completing five innings with just two hits allowed and three strikeouts. Waldron has not surrendered a run in his last three starts, totaling 12 innings with a remarkable 12 strikeouts and only one walk. With his strong performance, he is expected to join the Padres at the end of his rehab window later this month, although the team faces a decision regarding his status as he is out of options and may not clear waivers if sent down to the minors.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.