Padres To Promote LHP Andrew Werner

The Padres have announced that Andrew Werner will start for the team Wednesday, in their series finale against the Pirates. Werner will take Ross Ohlendorf‘s spot in the rotation. Ohlendorf was optioned to AAA Tucson after his last start.

Werner, who is 25, has a very interesting path to the majors. He was signed as an undrafted free agent back in 2011 by the Padres. He toiled in the independent Frontier League for the Evansville Otters and the Windy City Thunderbolts. He played his college ball at the University of Indianapolis, which is a Division II school.

Werner has pitched for the Padres organization since 2011, when he made his organizational debut. He has pitched for AA San Antonio and AAA Tucson in 2012.

Between the two minor league stops this year, Werner is 5-10, but with a very respectable 3.73 ERA. He even pitched a five-hit shutout for the T-Pads, a rarity in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.

Werner is not a flame-thrower; his fastball tops out in the high 80’s, and throws a changeup. He has walked just 2.3 batters per nine innings in the minors this year. Werner should throw strikes for the Padres.

Werner will become the 14th different Padre to start a game this year.