Braden Nett did not have a great Sunday evening.
That should not sully his stay so far in the Arizona Fall League as a breakout.
The 21-year-old right-hander coughed up two runs in his inning of work in the Fall Stars Game in the NL’s 6-3 loss to the AL on Sunday in Sloan Park in Mesa, Ariz.
Nett struck out a batter but he walked one, uncorked a wild pitch and allowed two hits while throwing 12 of his 20 pitches for strikes in taking the loss.
He’d been a bit rockier of late, but Nett punched his ticket to Sunday’s showcase with 21 strikeouts against 10 walks over 17 1/3 innings (4.67 ERA) with Peoria, Ariz.
An undrafted free agent who signed for $10,000 after the 2022 draft, Nett was slowed by a weak shoulder to start his stay in the organization and was wild (37 walks) while posting a 4.46 ERA over 40 1/3 innings between rookie ball and low Single-A Lake Elsinore.
The command leaped forward early this fall. Scouts have also been buzzing about a 70-grade fastball that touches 99 mph, a power breaking ball developing into an out-pitch and an improving changeup.
“It’s a young guy who hasn’t pitched a ton,” Padres assistant farm director Mike Daly said last month. “The fastball is electric. It’s a very good change-up and a good sweeper. … We’re very excited about Braden. He’s grown up a lot in a little more than a year for us.”
The other Padre in the Fall-Stars Game, Jakob Marsee (San Antonio) went 1-for-2 with a double. He was hitting .378/.490/.671 with four homers, 17 RBIs and 14 steals in 21 games to earn the start in left field.
The Padres’ Jakob Marsee of the Peoria Javelinas prepares before during the game between the Scottsdale Scorpions and the Peoria Javelinas at Goodyear Stadium on Saturday, October 14, 2023 in Goodyear, Ariz.
(Norm Hall / MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Around the horn
- Arizona Fall League: 3B Graham Pauley (San Antonio) is tied for second on Peoria with four homers and 17 RBIs. He’s hitting .253/.284/.467. … 1B Nathan Martorella (San Antonio) has one homer, three RBIS and a .236/.344/.346 batting line across 16 games.
- Dominican winter league: INF Eguy Rosario (Padres) is up to nine RBIs in 12 games for Estrellas. He is hitting .231/.313/.410 with four doubles, five walks and 14 strikeouts.
