SAN DIEGO -- Stephen Kolek was on a Texas highway, about halfway between Temple and College Station, when his phone started buzzing. First, it was family members. Then, it was various acquaintances throughout the baseball world. He pulled over. A handful of those texts read: “Congratulations!” “And I was like: Thanks,” Kolek recalled. “But for what?” That became apparent quickly enough. A couple of months earlier, Kolek had been told by a former teammate he might be selected in the Rule 5 Draft. But, clearly, he wasn't locked in. In what was very much not the main transaction of the day for the Padres, they selected Kolek from the Mariners in the Rule 5 Draft at the Winter Meetings in Nashville. A year and a half later, they’re reaping the rewards of that decision. Kolek joined their rotation two weeks ago in Pittsburgh, and he hasn’t allowed a run in two starts since. In his most recent outing, he pitched a complete-game shutout at Coors Field, becoming the first visiting pitcher to accomplish that feat since Clayton Kershaw in 2013. On Friday, Kolek makes his first career start against the team that left him exposed in the Rule 5 Draft two winters ago -- a fun subplot as the Padres and Mariners square off in the first formal edition of the Vedder Cup.
“It should be a lot of fun,” Kolek said. “I know I was drafted by the Dodgers, but I really considered myself a Mariner coming up, and I learned a lot and developed a lot as a Mariner. But I think I've learned and developed even more as a Padre.”
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Kolek’s path to the San Diego rotation was a long one. The club selected him with the intention of using him in the rotation eventually. But the 2024 Padres were looking to contend and didn't have room to let Kolek learn on the fly in the big league rotation. They also couldn’t send Kolek to the Minors, because Rule 5 Draft picks can’t be optioned without first being offered back to their former club. So Kolek spent the 2024 season in the bullpen. “He had some struggles, but we saw the stuff,” said pitching coach Ruben Niebla. “And the plan all year last year was: If he makes it through, this guy's going to be a starter. Because he has the arsenal. … It gave us an opportunity to evaluate not only his stuff, but him as a person -- work ethic, ability to maintain, ability to adjust. He got tested early. But you were able to see a guy that kept his composure.” Letting Rule 5 picks develop in the big leagues is a tricky needle to thread. By definition, their former club had already decided they weren’t ready for that challenge. There’s some thinking that it can stunt the development of a player -- and in certain cases, it might. But Kolek viewed it the opposite way. “It's always one of the big questions in the back of your mind as a Minor Leaguer: Can my stuff play in the big leagues?” Kolek said. “So having a chance last year to do it, and finding success -- I found failure, too, but you learn through the failure -- you push yourself to be better.” |
Early in the offseason, the Padres informed Kolek they planned to use him in the rotation. He was thrilled. He’d come up as a starter, before transitioning to the bullpen just before the Padres selected him. He was fine with pitching in relief. But starting is just more fun, he says, because he can use the entirety of his six-pitch mix. “It comes with its challenges,” he added. "Actually having a lot of your arsenal sharp and staying prepared so that everything can be a weapon and is available every time. Last year, it was like: 'Hey, if I have a sinker and a cutter today, I can probably get them out.' Now it's like: 'I have to face these guys multiple times. Let's get the sweeper going. Let's get the changeup going. Let's locate the fastballs a little bit better.’ There's a lot more challenge with that. But I'm up for it.” The Padres optioned Kolek to Triple-A El Paso just before the season, with every expectation that he’d join their rotation at some point, so long as he kept progressing. He did -- and has thrived since his return to the big leagues. Earlier this week, manager Mike Shildt heaped praise on every aspect of the organization for nailing the process -- from Kolek himself, to the scouts who identified him, to the development staff that worked with him, to the teammates that embraced him. “You think about all those different layers,” Shildt said. “It really speaks well to all the parts working together that equals a successful, sustainable organization.” Friday will mark the toughest test yet for Kolek. After facing a pair of last-place clubs, he faces the first-place Mariners and their much-improved offense. It’s an organization he knows well. “It's going to be great to see some old friends and get to pitch against them,” Kolek said. “But at the end of the day, we're here to beat them. It's going to be a lot of fun.” |
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MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
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Who is the only player to hit multiple home runs on both sides of the Vedder Cup rivalry (at least two home runs for the Mariners against the Padres and at least two home runs for the Padres against the Mariners)? A. Milton Bradley B. Mike Cameron C. Ty France D. Seth Smith |
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B. Cameron went deep four times for each side, which ties him with Tatis for the all-time lead in Padres-Mariners home runs, with eight. |
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