The San Diego Padres signed closer Brad Hand to a three-year, $19.75 million extension this past offseason with good reason. Hand, 27, is coming off of a career-year in which he had a sparkling 2.16 ERA, 0933 WHIP, and 11.8 SO/9.
Now that the Padres’ bullpen has been revitalized with the addition of Kazuhisa Makita and the return of Carter Capps, it should leave Hand in more favorable situations when he does come in.
With Craig Stammen and Kirby Yates coming off of decent 2017 campaigns of their own, plus Makita reinforcing the back-end of the ‘pen, the Friars’ late-game leads, which should come more often this year than in seasons past, will be in good hands.