Stephen Kolek - Page 6 - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Blanks Pittsburgh in season debut Kolek (1-0) earned the win Sunday against the Pirates, allowing four hits and two walks over 5.1 scoreless innings. He struck out four.

Impact It was a strong season debut for the 28-year-old Kolek, who held the Pirates to just four singles en route to a victory. Kolek made 42 appearances out of the bullpen for San Diego last year, pitching to a 5.21 ERA with a 1.52 WHIP and 39:12 K:BB across 46.2 innings. Kolek figures to stick around as the Padres' fifth starter following Sunday's performance. He'd line up for a road matchup in Colorado in his next outing.

MAY 4, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Stephen Kolek pitches into the 6th in first MLB start as Padres blank Pirates for 5th straight win

Stephen Kolek pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings in his first major league start and combined with four relievers for the San Diego Padres’ eighth shutout of the season, a 4-0 victory...

MAY 4, 2025 • Associated Press

Kolek delivers scoreless outing in first MLB start PITTSBURGH -- Stephen Kolek is hardly a stranger to a big league mound. Yet, after 42 Major League relief appearances, his first career star...

MAY 4, 2025 • MLB.COM

Called up for start Sunday The Padres recalled Kolek from Triple-A El Paso ahead of his scheduled start Sunday in Pittsburgh.

Impact David Morgan was optioned to Triple-A El Paso to make room on the 26-man active roster for Kolek, who will step in as the Padres' new No. 5 starter after Kyle Hart was previously demoted to Triple-A on April 24. Over his five outings with El Paso on the season, Kolek submitted a 6.38 ERA and 1.54 WHIP over 24 innings in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, but a 20:4 K:BB paints a more favorable picture of his overall performance. The 28-year-old righty should have an opportunity to make multiple turns through the rotation for the Padres with Yu Darvish's (elbow) return from the injured list not considered imminent.

MAY 4, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Padres aim to keep win streak alive against the Pirates

The San Diego Padres look to keep a four-game win streak alive when they take on the Pittsburgh Pirates

MAY 4, 2025 • Associated Press

Fernando Tatis Jr. scores Padres' winning run on wild pitch AND joins 100-100 club

It was quite a night for Fernando Tatis Jr., who was injured on Friday and returned Saturday to steal the 100th base of his career in the Pa...

MAY 4, 2025 • FOX SPORTS

Fernando Tatis Jr. scores Padres' winning run on wild pitch AND joins 100-100 club

Getting start Sunday The Padres plan to recall Kolek from Triple-A El Paso to have him start Sunday's game against the Pirates at PNC Park, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Impact San Diego had been getting by with a four-man rotation since optioning Kyle Hart to El Paso on April 24, but the team will transition back to a five-man starting staff this weekend and call upon Kolek to fill the void. After losing out to Hart in spring training in the competition for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, Kolek turned in an inflated 6.38 ERA and 1.54 WHIP over 24 innings across his five starts in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, though his 14.4 K-BB% has been encouraging. Kolek will get a favorable draw against a weak Pirates offense for his first career MLB start, and a strong showing could allow him to stick around for multiple turns through the rotation while Yu Darvish (elbow) remains at least a few weeks away from making his season debut.

MAY 3, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Padres minors: Stephen Kolek in control in El Paso; Storm still winless Stephen Kolek has penned a 13-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio to start his year at Triple-A El Paso

APRIL 12, 2025 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM

Padres minors: Stephen Kolek's El Paso work, Garrett Hawkins returns Padres pitching coach Ruben Niebla on what he’s looking for from Stephen Kolek in his assignment at Triple-A El Paso

APRIL 6, 2025 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM

Hart, Vásquez earn final spots in Padres' Opening Day rotation PEORIA, Ariz. -- The Padres more or less finalized their season-opening rotation as they broke camp on Monday, with lefty Kyle Hart and righ...

MARCH 25, 2025 • MLB.COM

Loses bid for starting rotation Kolek was optioned to Triple-A El Paso on Monday, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Impact Kolek has been competing for one of the two remaining rotation spots throughout spring training and managed to escape with a decent outing during Monday's Cactus League game against the Mariners, allowing two runs on five hits and four walks over five innings, but it'll be Randy Vasquez and Kyle Hart who round out San Diego's starting rotation to begin the 2025 regular season. However, Kolek will presumably be a candidate for a promotion if either Vasquez or Hart were to struggle to open the campaign.

MARCH 25, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Padres' Yu Darvish to start season on injured list with elbow inflammation

San Diego Padres right-hander Yu Darvish will start the season on the injured list because of inflammation in his right elbow, according to manager Mike Shildt

MARCH 21, 2025 • Associated Press

Spring training update: Kolek scuffles a bit; Iglesias, Lockridge continue to produce in Padres' loss to Giants Stephen Kolek allowed two runs on four hits in first inning, took more pitches than usual; Brandon Lockridge was 2-for-4

MARCH 19, 2025 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM

Odds of rotation spot increasing Kolek may be one of two finalists to open the season as San Diego's fifth starter, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Impact Kolek, Kyle Hart, Randy Vasquez and Matt Waldron have been battling for the Padres' final rotation spot for most of spring training, but Waldron recently suffered an oblique injury that will probably prevent him from being ready for Opening Day, and Hart had his throwing progression temporarily stalled due to the flu. That could leave Kolek and Vasquez as the finalists for a rotation role, and Kolek has looked slightly better in Cactus League action this far. Over nine innings spanning three appearances, Kolek has given up just one run while posting a 5:1 K:BB, while Vasquez has surrendered two runs over four frames with a 4:0 K:BB. However, Vasquez has the edge in terms of starting experience -- he started 20 games for San Diego last season, while Kolek came out of the bullpen for all 42 of his appearances.

MARCH 16, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

With Matt Waldron out, fifth starter competition is down to three (and maybe two) Padres have been please by what they see from Kyle Hart, they just haven’t seen enough; Stephen Kolek, Randy Vasquez are leading candidates;...

MARCH 15, 2025 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM

Impressive in rotation audition Kolek completed four innings in a Cactus League appearance against the Royals on Thursday, allowing one run on three hits while issuing one walk and striking out two batters.

Impact Yu Darvish started the game and tossed four frames for San Diego, and Kolek followed with four innings of his own. The latter held Kansas City to a lone run, which is the only run he's surrendered through nine frames this spring. Kolek's five punchouts over that span isn't impressive, but he's walked just one batter and given up only five hits. The right-hander is among several pitchers competing for the Padres' final rotation spot this spring, and to this point it's unclear who among the group -- which also includes Kyle Hart, Matt Waldron and Randy Vasquez -- has the upper hand.

MARCH 14, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Padres notes: Stephen Kolek keeps progressing; Jose Iglesias has made an impression The Padres got to see two startes in Thursday’s game, as the forecasted rain held off until the ninth inning

MARCH 14, 2025 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM

Spring training report: Jackson Merrill homers, Stephen Kolek sharp again in Padres' loss to Royals Randy Vásquez allows six runs (four earned) on seven hits in two innings, while Stephen Kolek throws three perfect frames

MARCH 2, 2025 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM

Makes good impression Tuesday Kolek tossed two scoreless innings in a Cactus League game against San Diego on Tuesday, allowing two hits and striking out two batters.

Impact Kolek came out of the bullpen for all 42 of his appearances as a rookie last season, but he's getting stretched out this spring to compete for the Padres' fifth rotation spot. The right-hander looked good in his spring debut Tuesday, throwing five different types of offerings among his 25 pitches and keeping the Angels off the scoreboard. San Diego's other options to break camp as the fifth starter include Kyle Hart, Matt Waldron, Jhony Brito and Randy Vasquez.

FEBRUARY 26, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Stephen Kolek's next adventure: Pushing for a spot in Padres rotation ‘Any chance you have to compete for a starting job in the big leagues is a great opportunity’

FEBRUARY 25, 2025 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM

Will be stretched out this spring Kolek will be stretched out as a starting pitcher this spring, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

Impact All 42 of Kolek's appearances with the Padres last season came in relief and he was a full-time reliever in the minors in 2023, as well. However, the 27-year-old made 25-plus starts on two occasions during his time in the minors, so starting is not completely foreign to him. Stretching Kolek out makes sense for a Padres team that lacks rotation depth, but he's a long shot to break camp as one of the team's starting five. Kolek missed the final two months of last season with a forearm issue but appears to be healthy as camp opens.

FEBRUARY 12, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Padres roster review: Stephen Kolek Sizing up the Padres’ 40-man roster heading into the 2025 season: Stephen Kolek was up-and-down as a Rule 5 pick until a forearm injury ende...

DECEMBER 20, 2024 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM

Shifts to 60-day IL The Padres transferred Kolek to the 60-day injured list Sunday.

Impact The right-hander landed on the shelf in late July due to forearm tendinitis, and he now won't be eligible to be reinstated until after the regular season. Kolek recently resumed playing catch but has yet to throw off a mound, so he still has significant work to do in his rehab program.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Shifts to 60-day IL The Padres transferred Kolek (forearm) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Sunday.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Yet to throw off mound Kolek (forearm) has been playing catch but hasn't yet thrown off a mound, per MLB.com.

Impact Kolek is rehabbing from right forearm tendinitis, but it's not clear how close he may be to a return to the Padres. The righty reliever logged 42 appearances with the team prior to getting hurt, posting a 5.21 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 39:12 K:BB over 46.2 frames. If Kolek makes it back to the big-league bullpen before the end of the season, he'll likely take on a low-leverage role.

AUGUST 31, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

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Stephen Kolek pitches into the 6th in first MLB start as Padres blank Pirates for 5th straight win

Padres aim to keep win streak alive against the Pirates

Fernando Tatis Jr. scores Padres' winning run on wild pitch AND joins 100-100 club

Padres' Yu Darvish to start season on injured list with elbow inflammation