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According to a tweet by his sister Chloe, rookie starting pitcher Colin Rea has been informed by the Padres that he will be in the starting rotation to begin the season. After a spirited competition all spring long that came down to him and Robbie Erlin for the final spot, Rea joins Tyson Ross, James Shields, Andrew Cashner, and newcomer Drew Pomeranz. His first start of the season will be at Colorado's Coors Field during the Padres' first road series of the year.
Rea made six starts during Spring Training, pitching a team-high 22 innings. In what are largely useless numbers due to a number of factors including pitchers having minor league defenders behind them at any given time during the spring, and using their outings as an opportunity to work on pitches rather than focus solely on getting outs, Rea put together a 5.73 ERA and WHIP of 1.73 on 25 hits and 13 walks, with opponents batting .291 against him.
This will be Rea's second season in the majors, though he still maintains his rookie status. Last season he went 2-2 with a 4.26 ERA in 31.2 innings over six starts after going 5-4 with a 1.95 ERA in 101.2 innings with the AA San Antonio Missions and AAA El Paso Chihuahuas. His total 2015 workload of 132.1 innings was just shy of his career high of 139 he set the previous year in 28 starts with the high-A Lake Elsinore Storm.
The bro made the starting pitching rotation for the Pads #padREAS once again! Here comes a great season! ❤️⚾️ #soproud
— Chloe Rea (@Clrearea22) April 2, 2016