Chris Paddack

Chris Paddack
Paddack with the San Diego Padres in 2021
Samsung Lions – No. 59
Pitcher
Born: (1996-01-08) January 8, 1996
Austin, Texas, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Professional debut
MLB: March 31, 2019, for the San Diego Padres
KBO: July 18, 2026, for the Samsung Lions
MLB statistics
(through June 29, 2026)
Win–loss record32–43
Earned run average4.83
Strikeouts569
KBO statistics
(through August 18, 2026)
Win–loss record2–2
Earned run average3.00
Strikeouts35
Stats at Baseball Reference 
Teams

Christopher Joseph Paddack (born January 8, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Samsung Lions of the KBO League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres, Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers, Miami Marlins, and Texas Rangers. He was drafted by the Marlins in 2015, then traded to the Padres in 2016. He made his MLB debut with San Diego in 2019, then was traded to Minnesota in 2022. He was traded to Detroit midway through the 2025 season, then returned to Miami via free agency. He signed with Cincinnati early in the 2026 season after being released by Miami.

Career

Amateur career

Paddack attended Cedar Park High School in Cedar Park, Texas.[1] He committed to play college baseball for the Texas A&M Aggies.[2]

Miami Marlins

The Miami Marlins selected Paddack in the eighth round (236th overall) of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft and signed.[3] He made his professional debut that year with the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Marlins where he went 4–3 with a 2.18 ERA in 11 games (seven starts). Paddack started 2016 with the Single-A Greensboro Grasshoppers.[4]

San Diego Padres

On June 30, 2016, the Marlins traded Paddack to the San Diego Padres for Fernando Rodney.[5] He was then assigned to the Fort Wayne TinCaps. On July 30, Paddack was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow. He underwent Tommy John surgery on August 15 and missed the rest of the 2016 season.[6] In nine starts between Greensboro and Fort Wayne, he posted a 2–0 record and 0.85 ERA along with 71 strikeouts.[7] The surgery forced Paddack to also miss all of 2017.

Paddack returned to the mound in 2018 with the High-A Lake Elsinore Storm. With the Storm, he pitched to a 2.24 ERA in 52 innings before being promoted to the Double-A San Antonio Missions. He was even better for the Missions, pitching to a 1.91 ERA in 38 innings before reaching his innings limit and being shut down for the remainder of the season.[8] The Padres added him to their 40-man roster after the season.[9]

Paddack was invited to spring training by the Padres in 2019 and dominated, pitching to a 3–1 record and a 1.76 ERA in 5 games, earning him a spot on the team's opening day rotation.[10] On March 31, he made his major league debut with a start versus the San Francisco Giants. He allowed one run over five innings and recorded seven strikeouts. On June 12, Paddack was optioned to Lake Elsinore as a way to lessen his amount of innings pitched.[11] He was recalled on June 22.[12] During the season, he earned the nickname "Paddack Attack" for his first-pitch strike-heavy approach and relentless assault on opposing hitters with his fastball and changeup combination.[13][14] Paddack finished with a record of 9-7 and a 3.33 ERA in 26 starts. He struck out 153 in 140+2⁄3 innings. Paddack was named the Opening Day starter for the Padres in 2020. He finished 4–5 with a 4.73 ERA. Throughout the season, Paddack struggled with command as he allowed 14 home runs in just 59 innings.

Minnesota Twins

On April 7, 2022, the Padres traded Paddack, Emilio Pagán, and a player to be named later to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for Taylor Rogers, Brent Rooker, and cash considerations.[15] On May 10, Paddack was put on the 10-day injured list due to a right elbow strain. He underwent his second Tommy John surgery on May 18, ending his season.[16]

On January 13, 2023, Paddack agreed to a one-year, $2.4 million contract with the Twins, avoiding salary arbitration.[17] Later that day, Paddack agreed to a three-year, $12.5 million contract extension with the Twins that bought out his two remaining arbitration-eligible years and what would have been his first year of free agency.[18] On September 24, Paddack was activated from the injured list to make his return from Tommy John surgery.[19] Paddack began the season in the Twins rotation to begin the 2024 season but suffered through another injury shortened season, appearing in only 17 games before a complete shutdown due to a forearm strain in August. Paddack was 5–3 with a 4.99 ERA and 79 strikeouts over 88+1⁄3 innings pitched.[20]

Detroit Tigers

On July 28, 2025, the Twins traded Paddack and Randy Dobnak to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for Enrique Jiménez.[21][22] On September 2, Paddack was moved to the bullpen after posting a 5.40 ERA over six starts.[23] On September 9, Paddack earned his first-ever MLB save, throwing the final three innings (all scoreless) of the Tigers victory over the New York Yankees.[24] He made 12 total appearances (seven of them starts) for Detroit, compiling a 2-3 record and 6.32 ERA with 29 strikeouts over 47 innings of work.

Miami Marlins (second stint)

On February 12, 2026, Paddack signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Miami Marlins.[25] He made seven appearances (including six starts) for Miami, but struggled to an 0-5 record and 7.63 ERA with 27 strikeouts across 30+2⁄3 innings pitched. On May 5, Paddack was designated for assignment by the Marlins.[26] He was released by Miami on May 10.[27]

Cincinnati Reds

On May 13, 2026, Paddack signed a one-year, major league contract with the Cincinnati Reds.[28] He made six appearances (including three starts) for Cincinnati, posting an 0–2 record and 6.04 ERA with 12 strikeouts across 22+1⁄3 innings pitched. On June 22, Paddack was designated for assignment by the Reds.[29] He elected free agency two days later after clearing waivers.[30]

Texas Rangers

On June 29, 2026, Paddack signed a major league contract with the Texas Rangers.[31] He allowed two runs across four innings of relief in a 6–3 victory over the Cleveland Guardians. Paddack was designated for assignment by the Rangers the following day.[32] On July 2, he elected free agency.[33]

Samsung Lions

On July 11, 2026, Paddack signed a $473,333 contract with the Samsung Lions of the KBO League for the remainder of the 2026 season.[34]

References

  1. ↑ "No time for rest for All-Centex player of the year Paddack". Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Christopher Paddack - Player Profile". Perfect Game USA. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Cedar Park pitcher drafted to Miami". Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  4. ↑ "New pitcher Chris Paddack impressive during Hoppers hot stretch". June 2016. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Marlins trade for Padres closer Rodney". June 30, 2016. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Padres' Chris Paddack: Headed for Tommy John surgery". CBS Sports. July 31, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Chris Paddack Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Chris Paddack Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Padres make moves to add prospects to roster ... and they're not done". The San Diego Union-Tribune. November 20, 2018. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Paddack in Padres' rotation after sizzling spring". March 26, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Padres send Chris Paddack to Lake Elsinore Storm for a break". June 13, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Padres recall SP Chris Paddack from Single-A". MSN. Archived from the original on July 15, 2019.
  13. ↑ "Padres' Rookie Chris Paddack Attacks Hitters With Old-School Approach, New-School Attitude". Sports Illustrated. May 10, 2019. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  14. ↑ "Hijinks Hijack Paddack Attack". San Diego Reader. May 17, 2019. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  15. ↑ Park, Do-Hyoung (April 7, 2022). "Twins get Paddack, Pagán from Padres for Rogers, Rooker". MLB.com. MLB. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  16. ↑ Franco, Anthony (May 18, 2022). "Chris Paddack Undergoes Tommy John Surgery". mlbtraderumors.
  17. ↑ Dierkes, Tim (January 14, 2023). "2023 MLB Arbitration Tracker". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved January 5, 2026.
  18. ↑ "On the mend, Paddack gets 3-year extension". mlb.com. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Twins RHP Chris Paddack back after Tommy John surgery". espn.com. September 24, 2023. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  20. ↑ Deeds, Nick (September 1, 2024). "Twins Select Diego Castillo, Michael Helman; Activate Brooks Lee". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
  21. ↑ Murphy, Brian (July 28, 2025). "Tigers get Paddack, Dobnak in trade with Twins; Olson (shoulder) out for year". MLB.com. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  22. ↑ Gonzalez, Alden (July 28, 2025). "Tigers acquire pitcher Chris Paddack in trade with Twins". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  23. ↑ McDonald, Darragh (September 2, 2025). "Tigers Move Chris Paddack To Bullpen". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 19, 2025.
  24. ↑ Beck, Jason (September 9, 2025). "Paddack puts finishing touches on Tigers' romp with 1st career save". mlb.com. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
  25. ↑ "Marlins reach deal with former draftee Paddack (source)". mlb.com. Retrieved February 9, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Marlins designate veteran RHP Chris Paddack for assignment". ESPN.com. Associated Press. May 5, 2026. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Marlins Release Chris Paddack". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Reds Sign Chris Paddack (source)". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Reds' Chris Paddack: DFA'd for second time in 2026". CBS Sports. June 22, 2026. Retrieved June 30, 2026.
  30. ↑ "Chris Paddack Elects Free Agency". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  31. ↑ "'Sheriff' Paddack joins Rangers, set to debut for third team this season". MLB.com. Retrieved June 30, 2026.
  32. ↑ "Rangers Designate Chris Paddack For Assignment". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved June 30, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Jarred Kelenic, Joe Ross, Chris Paddack elect free agency from Rangers". KELO-AM. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  34. ↑ Yoo, Jee-ho (July 11, 2026). "KBO-leading Lions sign ex-MLB pitcher Paddack". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
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