Padres select – The Padres officially selected outfielder Jase Bowen on June 2, a move made after calling him up the day before. Ramón Laureano went to the 10-day injured list retroactive to May 31 with right hip inflammation, while Nick Pivetta was moved to the 60-day IL, cl
On June 2, the Padres officially announced their selection of outfielder Jase Bowen. The timing is tight, the roster moves are real, and the reason is simple: the Friars needed space to get him on the field as soon as he’s able to get into a game.
Bowen, 25, had been called up on June 1, setting up the next step—opening a spot on both the active roster and the 40-man roster. From there, it becomes a waiting game familiar to prospects: the major league debut arrives as soon as he gets into a game.
The roster juggling didn’t start with Bowen. Ramón Laureano is on the injured list with right hip inflammation, placed on the 10-day IL retroactive to May 31. At the same time, Nick Pivetta has been moved to the 60-day IL as the corresponding 40-man move.
Bowen’s path to this moment goes back to the Pirates. He was originally an 11th-round pick in 2019. In the minor leagues, the numbers have shown both promise and friction—power, but questions about approach. Through the end of 2024, Bowen logged over 2,000 plate appearances on the farm. He hit 64 home runs, but his 7.5% walk rate and 25.6% strikeout rate were both subpar. His combined minor league slash line was .243/.315/.406 with a 99 wRC+.
His 2025 line sharpened the story, even if it didn’t fully erase the concerns. After missing time due to injury, he produced a .272/.353/.449 line across 366 plate appearances, posting a 124 wRC+. His walk rate improved to 10.7%, but he was still punched out at a 28.7% clip. A .376 batting average on balls in play helped lift his output.
He didn’t have a roster spot by season’s end, and became a minor league free agent. That’s when the Padres signed him to a minor league deal—an acquisition that now translates into a roster decision.
This year has brought another look, this time from Triple-A El Paso. Bowen has 13 home runs, a 9.5% walk rate, and a .292/.362/.600 slash line with 121 wRC+. The same caveat remains. His strikeout rate is still high at 26.6%, and his production again benefits from a high BABIP—this time .349.
Even with the swing-and-miss questions, there’s a reason the club can justify giving him a spot. Back in April, FanGraphs ranked Bowen the #17 prospect in a weak Padres’ system. The evaluation wasn’t all offense—concerns about his approach at the plate came with praise for his athleticism. Bowen is a strong runner who can help on the basepaths and in the outfield. He stole at least 16 bases in each season from 2021 to 2025.
Defensively, he’s been used in all three outfield slots. The role projection that comes naturally with that package is clear: if his bat doesn’t fully hold the same numbers as recent seasons. he still profiles as a decent fourth outfielder—one who can run down balls and swipe a bag from time to time.
Roster needs are part of the picture. The Padres have recently had Fernando Tatis Jr. covering second base, leaving the outfield as Gavin Sheets, Jackson Merrill, and Ramón Laureano. On the bench are Nick Castellanos and Bryce Johnson. but both have struggled this season: Castellanos is at .191/.221/.339. and Johnson is at .188/.257/.250. Neither of them are optionable, which makes designating someone for assignment the likely path to open roster space for Bowen.
The IL situation also carries an additional possibility. If someone in that group is headed to the injured list with an unreported injury. the Friars could open a 40-man spot by moving someone to the 60-day injured list. Nick Pivetta fits that profile: he’s already been on the 15-day IL for almost two months. initially landing there on April 13th. He hasn’t yet begun a rehab assignment, which means he isn’t in line for a near-term activation.
Bowen is the one getting selected. But the story behind that selection is really about the space it took to make it happen—and how quickly the Padres want a new look once the roster math is finally solved.
Padres Jase Bowen major league debut Ramón Laureano right hip inflammation Nick Pivetta 60-day IL 10-day IL El Paso Triple-A