According to multiple reports, the San Diego Padres have optioned backup catcher, Rafael Lopez, to Triple-A El Paso to make room for tonight’s starting pitcher, Joey Lucchesi, on the team’s 25-man roster.
Lucchesi, 24, was a fourth-round draft pick of the Friars in the 2016 MLB Amateur Draft. Since making his professional debut later that fall, the left-hander has a 1.99 earned-run average, a 0.934 WHIP, and 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings in 181 innings.
After speeding through three levels of the Padres organization in under a full season, Lucchesi made it to Double-A San Antonio last season, pitching well enough to get a major league camp invite this year.