The San Diego Padres have confirmed the signing of Daison Acosta to a significant one-year Major League contract. This acquisition reduces their 40-man roster to 37 players.
Daison Acosta: A Promising Addition to the Padres
Daison Acosta, a 27-year-old right-handed pitcher, has not yet made an appearance in the Major Leagues. However, he demonstrated impressive skills during the 2025 season while playing in the Washington Nationals organization. Acosta posted a 2.42 ERA over 52 relief innings, achieving a remarkable 33% strikeout rate.
Acosta’s Performance and Pitching Style
Acosta’s notable statistics include:
- Strikeout rate: 33%
- Walk rate: 12.4%
- Ground-ball rate: 44.1%
His primary pitch, a four-seam fastball, averages 94.5 mph. In addition to his fastball, Acosta utilizes a diverse array of pitches, which includes a splitter, sinker, and slider. This four-pitch arsenal adds depth to his pitching capabilities.
Acosta’s Journey to the Padres
Acosta began his professional career as an international signing with the New York Mets in 2016, hailing from the Dominican Republic. He transitioned to the Nationals after being selected in the 2023 Rule 5 Draft’s minor league phase. During his tenure with the Nationals, Acosta maintained an ERA below 3.00, striking out nearly one-third of the hitters he faced.
Over the last two minor league seasons, he has recorded impressive swinging-strike rates of 19.1% and 17.3%. Although he has not started any games since 2022, he is expected to bolster the Padres’ bullpen as a reliable depth option.
Contract Details and Future Prospects
The signing of Daison Acosta is a strategic move for the Padres. It represents a low-cost investment, as he is likely receiving the MLB minimum salary for potential major league appearances. Importantly, Acosta retains several minor league options, allowing the Padres the flexibility to assign him to Triple-A next spring without needing to place him on waivers.
