USA TODAY Sports

Pedro Avila Making Serious Case to Be in Next Year’s Starting Rotation

Originally posted on FanNation Inside The Padres
By Jacob Zinder | Last updated 9/7/23

The Padres in the second half of the 2023 season have been one of the more disappointing teams in the league.

Failing to go on any kind of consistent winning stretches and players not performing to their standards, this Friar team is well back from the last National League Wild Card spot. However, there have been some bright spots, one of them being RHP Pedro Avila.

After making his 2023 debut back in July, Avila has been mostly used as a long-relief option, but has made three starts in his 10 appearances so far — and his last start was something to remember.

The 26-year-old pitcher notched his first career win as an MLB pitcher and has also played well enough to catch the eye of his manager as a potential rotation piece next season.

“I think you’re always evaluating what next year looks like because it’s not going to be the same here,” Bob Melvin said after Avila’s victory. “There are going to be some changes here and some free agents, so forth and so on. So it’s about contributing at a time when we need somebody to contribute and then making opportunities for the next year.”

(via Jeff Sanders, The San Diego Union-Tribune)

With key rotation piece Blake Snell set to hit free agency after this season, Avila could turn into a consistent member of San Diego's rotation as soon as next season.

The young pitcher has tossed the ball well this year and there are definitely eyes on him to see if he can become one of many young pieces in San Diego to help win them some games moving forward.

This article first appeared on FanNation Inside The Padres and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: