The San Diego Padres made the postseason for the primary time since 2022 after ending the season with a document of 93-69 and coming in second place within the Nationwide League West.
Though the Padres had a robust first sequence of the playoffs, they misplaced to the eventual World Collection champion Los Angeles Dodgers within the Nationwide League Division Collection.
After a robust displaying in 2024, the Padres haven’t made any acquisitions up to now within the offseason, however they do have one dominant beginning pitcher on their roster.
Dylan Stop is the ace of the Padres beginning rotation, and stats present simply how dominant he was in 2024 with considered one of his pitches.
In keeping with MLB Community on ‘X,’ Stop led the league in most swings and misses on a single pitch kind with 313 swings and misses on his slider.
Dylan Stop’s slider is gross 😳
(h/t @SlangsOnSports) pic.twitter.com/P6V0BXOSqc
— MLB Community (@MLBNetwork) January 19, 2025
Stop got here into the league in 2019 with the Chicago White Sox the place he performed for 5 seasons earlier than going to the Padres in 2024.
In 2024 with the Padres, Stop began 33 video games and held a document of 14-11 with a 3.47 ERA and 224 strikeouts in 189.1 innings pitched.
Stop’s slider had 70 extra swings and misses than the subsequent closest participant who was Chris Sale’s slider.
Whereas Stop’s slider was confirmed to be his most dominant pitch in 2024, he additionally possesses an above-average fastball, which might make him even harder to hit for opposing batters.
The Padres will want Stop to be dominant once more in 2025 in the event that they wish to compete with the Dodgers for a division title, which they haven’t received since 2006.
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