The San Diego Padres’ signing of starting pitcher to a four-year, $55 million deal initially caught the Friar Faithful off guard. But now, many fans are intrigued by the possibility of him becoming a consistent contributor in the team’s starting rotation.
A Fresh Start
He has long been viewed as slightly above a journeyman starter. Over his 10-year MLB career, he’s made 186 starts but has recorded only two seasons with double-digit wins. Facing free agency for the first time gave him a chance to reset his trajectory and find a team that valued what he brings to the mound.
Though many assumed he would remain with the Boston Red Sox—where he’d been a regular part of the rotation since 2021—his departure became more likely when Boston acquired Garrett Crochet to headline their rotation. With the team focused on locking in their new ace long-term, Pivetta was left uncertain about where he stood in the Red Sox’s plans.
Other teams like the Toronto Blue Jays and Cincinnati Reds showed interest, but it was the Padres who presented the clearest vision for how Pivetta would be used. Their transparency won him over and ultimately led to his decision to head west.
Trusting the Process—and the Data
Pivetta’s strong start to the 2025 season is rooted in his ability to execute a well-rounded pitch mix. He’s leaning heavily on his four-seam fastball (51%) and sweeper (19%) to keep hitters off-balance, while integrating more of his secondary pitches as games progress. He’s also added depth by mixing in a curveball (17%), slider (8%), cutter (6%), and sinker (2%)—a strategy encouraged by Padres pitching coach Ruben Niebla.
So far, the approach is paying off: Pivetta has posted a 5-1 record with a 3.05 ERA over eight starts. Opponents are hitting just .205 against him, with only 33 hits allowed in 44.1 innings. His 27.7% strikeout rate has been a major factor in his success.
This level of performance has put him in the early conversation for an All-Star nod and made him a key part of the Padres’ early-season momentum. The goal is to keep hitters guessing by effectively using his full pitch arsenal—and so far, Pivetta has risen to the challenge.
He bet on himself, and it’s paying off. Now it’s a matter of seeing how the rest of the 2025 season unfolds.
