Padres send Jhony Brito back to Triple-A

Brito was just recalled from Triple-A on Wednesday to add an extra arm to the bullpen, but he’ll head back to Triple-A with Randy Vásquez returning from the injured list on Sunday. He’ll stay ready at Triple-A El Paso until he’s needed once more.

Brito was sent down Saturday after allowing two runs in 4 1/3 innings in four days with the Padres. He’ll probably return to Triple-A before the weekend is up.

Brito hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since the 2024 campaign after missing last year following UCL surgery. He’s posted a strong 2.30 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 36/15 K/BB ratio across 43 innings over 10 starts in the minors this season. He’s likely to operate in a swingman-type role for the Padres as they continue to cobble together some semblance of a rotation.

Brito continues his recovery from internal brace surgery and will continue to round back into shape at the Triple-A level with the intention of joining the Padres’ bullpen at some point this summer.

Brito underwent internal brace surgery last May and could be in line to return in June or July. He had a 4.12 ERA over 43 2/3 innings in 26 relief appearances for the Padres in 2024.

Brito will miss the remainder of the season and most likely a significant portion of next season as well. The 27-year-old righty made a career-high 26 relief appearances last year for San Diego.

Brito is still recovering from the forearm strain he suffered this spring while recovering from the elbow sprain he picked up in 2024. He won’t be eligible to join the Padres until the end of May.

Brito finished last year on the injured list with a right elbow sprain and will head back to the shelf at the outset of the regular season. It’s unclear when he’ll be ready to rejoin San Diego’s pitching mix.

The contract is for $1 million for 2025 with a $5 million club option for 2026 that can reach up to $7.5 million based on games started. The 32-year-old posted a 2.69 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and an 182/38 K/BB ratio over 157 innings over 26 starts in the Korea Baseball Organization in 2024. Hart used a new sweeper, a heavier reliance on his changeup, and a new attack plan with his four-seam fastball up in the zone to win the Choi Dong-won Award, which is the KBO equivalent of the Cy Young Award. Hart will enter camp competing for the final spot in the Padres’ rotation with Matt Waldron, Jhony Brito, and Randy Vasquez.

It’s a procedural move that probably shouldn’t be legal but it is. It clears a spot on the 40-man roster to allow the Padres to select the contract of Nick Ahmed rather than having to designate someone for assignment. Brito will compete for a roster spot for the Padres in 2025.