Padres Make Roster Move, Recall Struggling Pitcher vs. Twins Sunday

Valentina Martinez | Aug 31, 2025

Apr 23, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt (8) take the ball to relieve starting pitcher Kyle Hart (68) in the fifth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images / Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Kyle Hart joined the San Diego Padres late in spring training, fresh off a successful season in Korea Baseball Organization where he was awarded the Cy Young equivalent overseas.

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Hart carried that momentum into his performance at spring camp with the Friars and was named a starter in the rotation. However, the left-handed was demoted after a few poor performances and has spent the majority of the season in and out of the big leagues.

Now, Hart will get his next chance to shine in MLB as the Padres called him up from Triple-A El Paso. Additionally, San Diego optioned right-handed pitcher Alek Jacob to the minors.

We have recalled LHP Kyle Hart from Triple-A El Paso and optioned RHP Alek Jacob to El Paso.

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) August 31, 2025

Hart will likely serve as a bulk innings guy since the Padres announced David Morgan will be the team's opener for Sunday's series finale. The left-hander has piggybacked an opener before.

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The Morgan and Hart duo last happened on July 6 against the Texas Rangers, when the right-hander recorded four outs before giving way to Hart.

Morgan collected one strikeout, walked one and allowed a run on four hits against the Rangers. Meanwhile, Hart tossed 3.2 perfect innings in a strong 43-pitch performance.

The southpaw returns to the big leagues sporting a 5.29 ERA with 21 strikeouts and 1.206 WHIP across 32.1 innings pitched.

The Padres were trailing 3-1 when Nick Pivetta threw his last pitch of the day in the second game of the series. However, the Friars were able to bounce back and even the series.

“I’m not happy with how things turned out,” Pivetta said to the San Diego Union-Tribune. “But to see the team achieve the overall goal is the more positive thing. I mean, that’s what we’re all in for, is winning baseball games. … That’s what makes me happy at the end of the day. And a win’s a win.”

The Padres gained one game in the race for the division and trail the Los Angeles Dodgers by just one game heading into Sunday's series finale.

“We talk a lot about being better as the game goes,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said. “… They made a change, and we were able to take some quality at-bats (and get) contributions from basically every single person in the line up. I love the adding on, the hunger to it.”

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