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Padres prospect Paddack finds out he made rotation during spring start

Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Chris Paddack has cracked the San Diego Padres' starting rotation after never pitching above Double-A in his professional career.

The right-hander was told by Padres manager Andy Green on the mound Monday night after throwing 2 2/3 shutout innings against the Seattle Mariners. The performance finished off a brilliant spring training that saw Paddack post a 1.76 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 15 1/3 innings.

Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer was at the mound meeting when Paddack got the good news from Green.

"(Green) asked us what we were all doing Sunday and we said we would be right behind this guy playing," Hosmer told The Associated Press. "I think he got the message."

The 23-year-old Paddack will indeed make his first career MLB start on Sunday against the San Francisco Giants.

"(He) earned it. He really did," Green said. "He did it the way you want to see everybody do it. He knocked the door down."

Paddack has also caught the attention of many around baseball. One scout reportedly told Jon Heyman of MLB Network that the righty was "about the most eye-opening prospect" he saw all spring.

Even more incredibly, Paddack started just seven games for Double-A San Antonio during 2018 after being promoted from Class A Lake Elsinore following 10 starts. He didn't pitch in 2017 as a result of Tommy John surgery.

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