Quick Read
- Ty Adcock signed a major league deal with the San Diego Padres for the 2026 MLB season.
- Adcock pitched for the Mets and Mariners, with a 5.48 ERA in 23 major league innings.
- He features a 97-mph fastball and multiple secondary pitches.
- Padres are seeking bullpen depth as closer Robert Suarez is expected to leave in free agency.
- Adcock’s role in San Diego is yet to be determined.
Padres Land Ty Adcock: A New Chapter for the Right-Handed Reliever
Ty Adcock’s baseball journey has been anything but straightforward. On December 4, 2025, the San Diego Padres announced the signing of Adcock to a major league contract for the upcoming 2026 season, a move first reported by Newsweek and confirmed by MLB Trade Rumors. For a bullpen in transition, Adcock arrives as a potential solution—an arm with raw power, resilience, and an appetite for opportunity.
Who is Ty Adcock? From Injuries to the Big Leagues
Adcock, now 28, is no stranger to adversity. Drafted in the eighth round by the Seattle Mariners in 2018 out of Elon University, his professional career stalled almost immediately. A right shoulder impingement kept him off the field, followed by the COVID-19 pandemic erasing the entire 2020 minor league season. The next year, Tommy John surgery on his throwing elbow forced another long hiatus.
Yet, Adcock refused to let setbacks define him. He returned in 2022, working his way through the Mariners’ system and, by 2023, earned his major league debut. In 12 appearances as a rookie, he posted a 5.48 ERA, giving up just six earned runs over 15.2 innings—a modest but promising start.
Recent Performance: Mets and Beyond
Adcock’s MLB experience remains limited: across 18 games with the Mariners (2023) and Mets (2024-25), he pitched 23 innings, striking out 19, with a 5.48 ERA. His 1.04 WHIP and .227 opponents’ batting average suggest a pitcher capable of keeping hitters in check, even if the results have been inconsistent.
At Triple-A Syracuse in 2025, Adcock went 1-3 with a 4.66 ERA in 31 games (one start), holding International League batters to a paltry .197 average and racking up 35 strikeouts in 36.2 innings. These numbers indicate a pitcher who, despite ups and downs, possesses swing-and-miss stuff and an ability to limit damage—traits highly valued in a bullpen role.
His arsenal is led by a fastball that touches 97 mph, complemented by a slider, cutter, and occasional splitter. The combination allows him to attack hitters in different ways, a versatility the Padres hope to harness.
Why the Padres? A Bullpen in Flux
San Diego’s bullpen faces uncertainty heading into 2026. With closer Robert Suarez expected to depart in free agency, the Padres are searching for depth and potential upside. Adcock’s signing fits the bill: a one-year deal (financial terms undisclosed), low risk, and possible medium reward. As MLB Trade Rumors commentators put it, “Looks like a low risk, medium reward situation.”
The Padres also have the advantage of an open 40-man roster, meaning Adcock slides in without forcing a corresponding move. Under pitching coach Ruben Niebla and rookie manager Craig Stammen (hired in November 2025 to replace Mike Shildt), Adcock may find the structure and guidance needed to reach his next level.
The Path to San Diego: Moves and Motivation
Adcock’s journey to the Padres was winding. After a brief stint with the Mariners, he was designated for assignment in April 2024, picked up by the Detroit Tigers, then DFA’d again after a month. Five days later, the Mets claimed him, hoping to tap his potential. By August 2025, the Mets sent him outright to Triple-A, and in October, Adcock elected free agency. For the Mets, losing Adcock is another hit to a bullpen already stretched thin by injuries and free agent departures.
San Diego’s acquisition of Adcock is not without its skeptics. Some see him as a budget version of established relievers like Wandy Peralta. Others wonder if his limited MLB innings (just 23) will translate into meaningful contributions. Yet, for a Padres club seeking depth and hoping for upside, Adcock represents a calculated bet on talent and perseverance.
What’s Next for Ty Adcock?
The exact role Adcock will play in San Diego remains undecided. He could serve as a middle reliever, a bridge to the late innings, or even compete for a higher-leverage spot if his performance warrants it. With a fastball that can overpower and a toolbox of secondary pitches, the opportunity to work with experienced coaches and a new manager may be just what Adcock needs to solidify his major league career.
For Adcock, 2026 is a chance to rewrite the narrative—a shot at proving that resilience and adaptability can pay off, even after years of injuries and setbacks. For the Padres, his arrival is one more step toward building a bullpen that can withstand the rigors of a long season in the competitive National League West.
While the financial details of the deal remain undisclosed, the underlying story is clear: Ty Adcock is betting on himself, and the Padres are betting that his best baseball is still ahead.
In a league where relievers can swing a season’s fate, Ty Adcock’s move to San Diego stands as a reminder of the value of persistence and the ongoing search for untapped potential. If Adcock harnesses his velocity and finds consistency, the Padres may have discovered a key bullpen piece at just the right time.