Padres roster review: Alek Jacob

Sizing up the Padres’ 40-man roster heading into the 2024 season: Alek Jacob signed for $75,000 as a 16th-round pick in 2021 and was impressive before injury shortened his MLB debut in 2023

Dec. 15, 2023 5 AM PT

Position(s): Right-handed pitcher
Bats / Throws: Left / Right
2024 opening day age: 25
Height / Weight: 6-foot-3 / 190 pounds
How acquired: 16^th round in 2021 (Gonzaga)
Contract status: Will not be arbitration-eligible until 2027
Key 2023 stats (AA): 1-0, 1.32 ERA, 32 strikeouts, 8 walks, 0.99 WHIP, .192 opponent avg., 27 1/3 innings (18 games)

1.82 — Jacob’s ERA over 104 innings in the minors since signing for $75,000 as a college senior.

Idle — Jacob struck out 323 batters in 288 1/3 innings (2.65 ERA, 1.05 WHIP) as a collegian but lasted into the middle rounds of the draft largely because he sat 85-89 mph. That was good enough for WCC pitcher of the year honors as a senior and a flier from the Padres, whose research and development department identified his change-up as a potential outlier pitch. So far, so good. Jacob rushed as high as Triple-A El Paso in his first full year in the system, has held minor league hitters to a .214 batting average and earned his first call-up over the summer. In a small sample, he struck out five batters, walked one and spun three no-hit innings in a stint that was halted by elbow/forearm trouble. Jacob was relieved to learn that tests revealed only a minor flexor strain and minor UCL sprain, neither of which was expected to require surgery. Jacob did not pitch again in 2023.

Provided he’s recovered this spring, Jacob could fit into the big-league bullpen as a change-of-pace, middle-relief arm. A sub-par fastball plays up because his low-70s change-up is a plus-plus pitch with heavy fade and sink, all of coming out of a side slot with a whip-like stroke that’s difficult for hitters to pick up. The organization is intent on the farm system supplementing the roster with cost-efficient options, so Jacob should compete for a job this spring.