Padres Infielder Wants to Pitch for Team This Season

Jake Cronenworth has lobbied to take the mound for the Padres, but MLB rules limit position players pitching.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 5:38pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the motion of a baseball pitcher's windup and delivery, with the players' uniforms in the Padres' and Rockies' colors, conceptually representing the versatility and skill of a multi-talented player.Cronenworth's versatility and desire to contribute as a pitcher adds intrigue to the Padres' talented roster.San Diego Today

Jake Cronenworth, an All-Star infielder for the San Diego Padres, has expressed a desire to pitch for the team this season. Cronenworth, who has previous experience as a pitcher in the minors and college, has lobbied the Padres' manager to let him take the mound, but MLB rules limit when position players can pitch.

Why it matters

Cronenworth's versatility and desire to contribute in multiple ways is an interesting storyline for the Padres, who have a deep and talented roster. The league's rules around position players pitching also add an extra layer of intrigue, as Cronenworth would need to wait for specific game situations to get his chance on the mound.

The details

Cronenworth started at shortstop for the Padres on April 11, filling in for Xander Bogaerts. While he has primarily played second base and made two All-Star teams there, Cronenworth has lobbied the Padres' manager, Craig Stammen, to let him pitch. Cronenworth has previous experience as a pitcher, including seven appearances (six starts) at the Triple-A level in 2019 where he was excellent, and one MLB appearance in 2021 where he allowed one hit in two-thirds of an inning. In college, Cronenworth had a two-seam fastball that reached 91-94 mph and a splitter in the 82-88 mph range.

  • Cronenworth made his only MLB pitching appearance in April 2021.
  • Cronenworth had seven pitching appearances (six starts) at the Triple-A level in 2019.

The players

Jake Cronenworth

An All-Star infielder for the San Diego Padres who has previous experience as a pitcher in the minors and college, and has expressed a desire to pitch for the Padres this season.

Craig Stammen

The manager of the San Diego Padres, who Cronenworth has lobbied to let him pitch.

Xander Bogaerts

The Padres' starting shortstop, whom Cronenworth filled in for on April 11.

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What they’re saying

“Yeah, I've lobbied a few times for it. I've only got one inning in the big leagues. I've got [seven appearances] in Triple-A. I lobby for it all the time.”

— Jake Cronenworth

“I would like to legitimately try to get guys out. We'll see what Craig [Stammen, the Padres' manager] says when he gives me the ball if that ever happens.”

— Jake Cronenworth

“The two-seam was, like 91 to 94. Then the splitter was like anywhere from 82 to 88 depending on which one I wanted to throw.”

— Jake Cronenworth

What’s next

The Padres' manager, Craig Stammen, will need to decide if and when to allow Cronenworth to pitch for the team this season, depending on the specific game situations permitted by MLB rules.

The takeaway

Cronenworth's versatility and desire to contribute in multiple ways, including as a pitcher, is an intriguing storyline for the talented Padres roster. While MLB rules limit when position players can pitch, Cronenworth's previous experience and enthusiasm for the role add an extra layer of intrigue to his role on the team.