An elbow reconstruction has provided Reiss Knehr with a new lease on his career.
Some more zip on his fastball, too.
The 28-year-old right-hander leads the Padres farm system with eight saves in his first full year back from Tommy John surgery, a rebound powered by a fastball that has jumped from 93 mph before his surgery to 94.5 mph
Knehr has struck out 22 batters against seven walks over 15 innings to start the year at Triple-A El Paso, a locale that makes a 2.40 ERA and an 0.93 WHIP all that more impressive.
Knehr’s strikeout rate of 13.2 per nine innings is also well above his career average (9.9).
This is actually Knehr’s second stint with the Padres.
Knehr was removed from the 40-man roster after the 2023 season as he prepared to rehab his Tommy John surgery. He missed all of 2024 and elected free agency after the season. He signed a new minor league deal in late February with the Padres, the team that drafted him in 20th round in 2018 out of Fordham University in New York.
Baseball America ranked Knehr as high as No. 16 among the Padres’ top prospects in 2021. He was developed as a starting pitcher, made his debut in 2021 (4.97 ERA over 29 innings) and posted a 5.96 ERA over 48⅓ innings over three years as an up-and-down arm that settled in the bullpen.
Friday’s scoreboard
TRIPLE-A EL PASO (22-21)
Chihuahuas 12, Las Vegas 4: Luis Campusano hit his 10th homer of the season, most in the Padre system, while playing his first game of the season at first base. Campusano has played 10 games in his career in the minors at first base and two games there in the majors. Campusano also doubled, walked twice and scored two runs in lifting his batting line to .330/.450/.670 in 32 games. LF Trenton Brooks (.830 OPS) hit his sixth homer, 3B Mike Brosseau (.692 OPS) hit his fourth homer and C Rodolfo Duran (.789 OPS) hit his second homer. DH Tirso Ornelas (.798 OPS) drove in three runs on three hits, including a double. LHP Kyle Hart (1-0, 1.84 ERA) struck out four and allowed an unearned run on two hits and three walks in five innings in the win.
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (18-19)
Missions 14, Midland 11: RHP Henry Baez (1-1, 3.11 ERA) allowed four unearned runs in 5 ⅔ innings in the win. He struck out four and walked three. RHP Andrew Moore (13.50 ERA) allowed two runs on three walks in one-third of an inning. RHP Bradgley Rodriguez (3.93 ERA) allowed three runs — two earned — in 1⅓ innings. C Brandon Valenzuela (.898 OPS) drove in two runs on five hits, all singles. RF Moises Gomez (.842 OPS) went 4-for-6 with a double. C Marcos Castañon (.751 OPS) and 3B Devin Ortiz (.806 OPS) both had two doubles.
HIGH SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (20-17)
W. Michigan 8, TinCaps 4: RHP Miguel Mendez (1-1, 2.25 ERA) struck out five and allowed two runs in three innings in the loss. RHP Josh Mallitz (7.06 ERA) struck out five over three shutout innings. SS Leo De Vries (.852 OPS) went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. 3B Rosman Verdugo (.873 OPS) went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. CF Nerwilian Cedeno (.659 OPS) went 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored.
LOW SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (16-21)
Fresno 6, Storm 3: RHP Abraham Parra (0-1, 23.14 ERA) allowed six runs in 2⅓ innings in the loss. SS Ryan Jackson (.893 OPS) went 3-for-4 with an RBI and 3B Zach Evans (.777 OPS) went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
ROOKIE ACL PADRES (3-7)
Padres 2, Royals 1 (7): RHP Winyer Chourio (1-1, 6.75 ERA) allowed a run in five innings in the win. RHP Elvis Reyes (8.31 ERA) saved his first game with two scoreless innings. C Carlos Rodriguez (1.215 OPS) went 2-for-2 with a double. SS Yimi Tovar (.741 OPS) went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
