Padres Sign Brent Honeywell Jr. to Minor League Deal
Brent Honeywell Jr., a right-handed pitcher once considered a top prospect in the Rays' system, has signed a minor league deal with the Padres.
Honeywell last pitched in the majors in 2024 and will report to Triple-A El Paso, where he'll try to work his way back onto the big league roster. The 31-year-old's major league career was delayed by a series of injuries, including Tommy John surgery in 2018, an elbow fracture in 2019, and nerve decompression surgery in 2020.
In his limited action in the majors, Honeywell has shown a knack for inducing ground balls, but his strikeout rate has been troublingly low. He posted a 2.63 ERA in 37 2/3 innings last season with the Dodgers and generated ground balls at an above-average 42.2% clip.
The Padres brought Honeywell aboard as a depth option for their bullpen, which has performed well this season with a 3.57 ERA and 6.8 WAR. However, his path to a big league return may be uncertain, especially given the team's current winning streak and lead in the NL Wild Card race.