San Diego Padres
· 2026-07-15
The San Diego Padres have made a significant signing, bringing in Tyler Pitzer as a free agent after the Major League Baseball draft. Pitzer, a South Fayette graduate, had been considering returning to college for his senior season but received a call from a Padres scout he knew, offering him a chance to sign with the team.
Pitzer's signing is a boost for the Padres, who are currently in 10th place in the National League with a 48-48 record, on a 2-game winning streak. They won their last game 5-4 against the Toronto Blue Jays on July 12. The addition of Pitzer, a talented pitcher, could be a key factor in the team's push for a playoff spot.
Pitzer will report to the Padres' spring training complex in Peoria, Arizona, where he will undergo evaluation and training. The plan is for him to spend a few weeks there before learning where he will finish the season. Pitzer is eager to pursue his dream of becoming a Major League Baseball player and is motivated to work even harder now that he has this opportunity.
Pitzer's journey to the Padres began with a strong performance in the Cape Cod wood bat league, where he was the Pitcher of the Year with a 0.34 ERA in 26.1 innings. He also had a 3.90 ERA in 30 innings with 38 strikeouts to 16 walks for Mississippi State in the spring. Pitzer was committed to transfer back to South Carolina for his senior season but decided to turn pro after the Padres offered him a deal.
"I'm super excited for it," Pitzer said. "It's what I've been working toward my entire career. Seeing all the work pay off and being able to start a new journey is great." Pitzer's signing is a testament to his hard work and dedication to his craft, and he is eager to take on the challenge of becoming a Major League Baseball player.
Pitzer's agent had a target monetary value before the draft, and while it didn't lead to him getting drafted, it worked out in the end. "As soon as the draft ended and I didn't get picked my first thought was that I was going to go back to school, but then the Padres called and got me what I needed financially, so I ended up taking it," Pitzer said.
Pitzer's performance in the Cape Cod league was a topic of discussion during meetings with scouts, and it probably got him on the Padres' radar. "I had a really good freshman year (at South Carolina), but my sophomore year was definitely a down year, so the summer was huge for me," Pitzer said. "It really put my name out there and got (Major League) teams to know who I was and started following me a lot heavier."
Pitzer is flying out to Arizona on Sunday and will report to the Padres' spring training complex in Peoria. The plan is to spend a few weeks there for evaluation before learning where he'll finish the season. Regardless of where that will be, Pitzer is eager to pursue his dream of being a Major League Baseball player. "The biggest thing for me is to work even harder now that I have this opportunity," Pitzer said. "I haven't made it yet. This is just the beginning of it, so it's a motivation for me to use to get all the way to the top.