Nick Solak is back in San Diego’s organization after briefly hitting free agency. The 31-year-old will report to Triple-A El Paso after his quick return follows an outright-assignment decision and a short first stint tied to Miguel Andujar’s hamstring injury.
When Nick Solak walked through the door again. it wasn’t a dramatic homecoming—it was a quick reset that came fast after a short brush with free agency. On Sunday. the San Diego Padres re-signed the infielder/outfielder to a new minor league contract. bringing him back after he briefly entered the market.
The 31-year-old is set to report to Triple-A El Paso. where he has been one of the organization’s most productive hitters this season. Solak’s return didn’t come out of nowhere. He became a free agent after declining an outright assignment to El Paso following his designation for assignment. Because he had been outrighted previously during his career, he was eligible to reject the assignment. After testing the open market, he rejoined San Diego on another minor league deal.
Solak originally signed with the Padres before the 2026 season and opened the year with the El Paso Chihuahuas. Across 54 Triple-A games, he has posted a .333/.412/.512 slash line with nine home runs, 40 RBIs and five stolen bases. That kind of production was strong enough to earn him a call-up to the major league roster on June 13. when Miguel Andujar landed on the injured list with a hamstring strain.
But Solak’s time with the Padres stayed brief. He appeared in four games, going 1-for-7 (.143) with one RBI and one walk. After Andujar returned from the injured list after just eight days, the roster spot shifted again. On June 21, Solak was designated for assignment.
There’s a simple reality behind this kind of move. and it shows in how quickly the timetable can turn—from a Triple-A role that was producing to a major league stint that lasted only four games. Once Andujar came back. Solak’s path narrowed again. leading to the designation for assignment that eventually opened the door to the earlier free agency decision.
Solak’s career has already had plenty of stops. He was a former second-round selection by the New York Yankees in the 2016 MLB Draft. and he made his MLB debut with the Texas Rangers in 2019. when he was voted the Rangers’ Rookie of the Year. Over his major league career, he has also spent time with the Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers, Pittsburgh Pirates and Padres.
Across 995 major league plate appearances, Solak owns a .249/.325/.367 batting line with a 91 wRC+. Still, his recent path has leaned heavily back toward Triple-A. Since the beginning of the 2024 season, he has consistently produced at that level, compiling a .325/.410/.482 slash line with a 133 wRC+.
Now, with this minor league contract in hand, Solak will aim to keep that momentum rolling for El Paso as the Padres figure out where his bat and roster value fit next.
San Diego Padres Nick Solak Triple-A El Paso El Paso Chihuahuas MLB minor league contract Miguel Andujar injured list hamstring strain designatied for assignment 2016 MLB Draft
So they DFA’d him just to bring him back? Padres really don’t know what they’re doing.
I swear I saw this guy on MLB a few days ago, then he’s back in Triple-A already. .143 is rough though, but the Triple-A numbers sound good??
Wait, it says his walk-off home run or whatever? lol idk. But if he was hitting .333 in El Paso why didn’t they keep him up? Andujar hamstring thing seems like the real cause not Solak.
Minor league deals are so weird. One minute he’s “testing free agency” the next minute he’s reporting to El Paso again. And the article says he declined the outright assignment because he was outrighted before… so like he’s basically gaming it? Also 40 RBIs and only 4 games up in SD seems messed up.