Nix hasn't pitched competitively since the 2019 season but should be fully healthy heading into spring training, when he'll be nearly two years removed from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in March 2021. The 26-year-old has previously made nine starts at the MLB level but will likely have to settle for a minor-league deal if he wants to continue his career.
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Padres' Jacob Nix: On mend from Tommy John surgery
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Nix underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in mid-March, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Tommy John surgery was the expected outcome for Nix after he aggravated a pre-existing elbow injury during spring training, and he apparently had the procedure a few days after the setback occurred. The 25-year-old will spend the entire 2021 season on Triple-A El Paso's 60-day injured list, and his recovery from the procedure will most likely extend into next summer. The elbow surgery is a devastating setback for Nix, who hasn't made an appearance in affiliated ball since Aug. 30, 2019.
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Padres' Jacob Nix: Heads to MiLB camp
Rotowire
The Padres reassigned Nix (elbow) to minor-league camp Wednesday.
Nix sustained an apparently serious right elbow injury last week that could require Tommy John surgery, so his demotion to minor-league camp was merely a formality. If he does in fact need the procedure, he'll be sidelined for all of the 2021 season and a good portion of the 2022 campaign as well.
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Padres' Jacob Nix: Could require Tommy John surgery
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Nix recently suffered another elbow injury and could require Tommy John surgery, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.
Nix didn't undergo Tommy John surgery after suffering a UCL tear in his right elbow in March 2019, but it appears as though he could elect for the procedure after another recent elbow injury. He'll likely receive a second opinion on his elbow, but he'd be sidelined for the entire 2021 campaign if he undergoes surgery.
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Padres' Jacob Nix: Tossing bullpens on homemade mound
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Nix has been throwing bullpen sessions on a mound he constructed with Tampa Bay's Chris Betts, Andrew Battifarano of MiLB.com reports.
Wanting to stay in shape but with no baseball facility available in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Betts and Nix decided to take matters into their own hands and build a mound in the backyard of Betts' home. The pair completed the projected in late March and have been training together "on a five- to six-day basis", per Battifarano. That should help Nix remain loose until play resumes, though the right-hander is expected to start the season in the minors.
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Padres' Jacob Nix: Clears waivers
Rotowire
Nix cleared waivers Friday and was outrighted to Triple-A El Paso.
Nix was limited to nine rehab outings in 2019 as he worked his way back from a torn UCL without undergoing surgery. He posted a 4.54 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP in 33.2 innings of work.
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Padres' Jacob Nix: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Nix (elbow) was designated for assignment by the Padres on Monday.
Nix will head to waivers after being booted from the 40-man roster. He failed to appear in the big leagues during the 2019 campaign due to a torn UCL.
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Padres' Jacob Nix: Arrested in Arizona
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Nix (elbow) was arrested Sunday in Peoria, Ariz. on a charge of criminal trespassing, Joe Enea of ABC 15 Arizona reports.
According to a Peoria police report, Nix and another Padres farmhand, Thomas Cosgrove, entered a residence but were quickly confronted by the homeowner, who deployed a Taser on Nix as he fled the premises. The Padres issued a statement Thursday indicating they were aware of the incident and wouldn't comment further on the matter while legal proceedings remain ongoing. Nix missed most of the 2019 season while rehabbing a torn UCL suffered in spring training, but he returned to action in late July and covered 24.1 innings across three minor-league affiliates.
Padres' Jacob Nix: Won't return to majors this season
Rotowire
Nix (elbow/shoulder) will not join the Padres this season, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
There had been hope that Nix would be able to return to the big club at some point in September, but he experienced discomfort in his shoulder during his final rehab start Sept. 11 and will be shut down as a result. Nix sat out most of 2019 after being diagnosed with a torn UCL in his right elbow during spring training, though he did work his way back to make eight minor-league starts -- including two in the playoffs -- with mostly positive results. He'll be a long shot to earn a spot in the rotation in 2020.
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Padres' Jacob Nix: Trounced in rehab start
Rotowire
Nix (elbow) took the loss for Double-A Amarillo on Wednesday, allowing nine runs on seven hits and two walks in 1.2 innings. He allowed four homers and struck out two batters.
Nix entered the game having given up a total of seven earned runs in his first seven rehab starts between four minor-league levels, but he was touched up for three runs in the first inning and six in the second in what was likely to be his final minor-league outing this season. The loss was particularly painful because it came in the second game of the Texas League Championship Series. Nonetheless, Nix's overall body of work in his rehab assignment was largely a success, as he worked his way up to 90 pitches in his previous start without showing any ill effects from the UCL tear that put his season on hold in mid-March. The next step for the 23-year-old has yet to be announced, but he remains in line for a return to the Padres before the end of the season.
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Padres' Jacob Nix: Making final rehab start Wednesday
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Nix (elbow) will start for Double-A Amarillo in Game 2 of the Texas League Championship Series on Wednesday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Nix will be making his eighth minor-league rehab start as he continues his recovery from a UCL tear in his right elbow. The 23-year-old has had no setbacks thus far and topped out at 90 pitches in his last outing. The best-of-five championship series is scheduled to end Sunday at the latest, so Wednesday's start is likely to be Nix's last appearance with the Double-A squad. He remains in line for a return to the big club before the end of the season.
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Padres' Jacob Nix: Hurls another strong rehab outing
Rotowire
Nix (elbow) tossed five innings for Double-A Amarillo on Thursday, taking the loss despite allowing only two runs on six hits and two walks. He struck out six.
Nix looked strong in the loss, throwing 90 pitches (56 for strikes) and whiffing six batters. He has now made seven rehab starts across four minor-league levels, compiling a 2.15 ERA and 35:8 K:BB in 29.1 innings. With Amarillo on the brink of playoff elimination, Nix's next outing is likely to be with the Padres, perhaps as early as next week.
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Padres' Jacob Nix: Dazzles in Triple-A rehab debut
Rotowire
Nix (elbow) tossed five shutout innings for Triple-A El Paso on Monday, allowing three hits and one walk while striking out six to pick up the win.
Nix threw 54 pitches (36 for strikes) while going five innings for the first time since beginning his rehab stint July 26. In five rehab starts, he has now compiled a 1.96 ERA while striking out 23 batters in 18.1 innings across three levels as he pushes to rise to the challenge that Padres manager Andy Green laid out to earn his way back to the big club this season. Nix went 2-5 with a 7.02 ERA in nine starts with San Diego in 2018.
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Padres' Jacob Nix: Moves rehab to Triple-A
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Nix is starting for Triple-A El Paso on Monday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Prior to Monday, Nix made four rehab starts between the Arizona League and High-A Lake Elsinore, compiling an 0-2 record along with a 2.70 ERA and 17:5 K:BB in 13.1 innings. The move to Triple-A takes him one step closer to returning to the majors after being diagnosed with a torn UCL in his right elbow in March. Barring any setbacks, he should see time with the big club before the end of the season.
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Padres' Jacob Nix: Hurls 4.1 innings in rehab start
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Nix made his first start with High-A Lake Elsinore on Wednesday, going 4.1 innings and allowing one unearned run on two hits and a walk while striking out seven.
In his third overall minor-league appearance as he recovers from a UCL strain, Nix reached his 65-pitch limit in the fifth inning after allowing only three baserunners. His fastball was clocked in the low 90s, and he has now struck out 13 batters over nine innings between Lake Elsinore and the Arizona Rookie League. Nix went 2-5 with a 7.02 ERA in nine starts with San Diego in 2018 and could be back with the big club at some point this season if his rehab continues to go well.
Nix (elbow) could begin a throwing program next week, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Nix is reportedly progressing well from a small UCL tear in his right elbow. The young right-hander, who opted to forego Tommy John surgery, said his elbow has healed nicely as a result of rest and a PRP injection. As such, Nix could be an option for the Padres during the second-half of the season, assuming he continues to progress without any setbacks.
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Padres' Jacob Nix: Forgoing Tommy John
Rotowire
Nix is hopeful to recover from the small UCL tear in his right elbow through rest and rehab rather than undergoing Tommy John surgery, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
The procedure and its subsequent year-plus recovery timetable often makes it a last-ditch resort for pitchers, so Nix will unsurprisingly forgo surgery after he recently received a second opinion that suggested he could still pitch again this season. Pitching with a compromised elbow will still put Nix at risk of a setback that may ultimately make surgery a necessary outcome, but the 23-year-old is optimistic he can still be effective in spite of the injury. On an encouraging note, Nix said his velocity was up even while he pitched through tightness that led to him being shut down earlier in the spring.
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Padres' Jacob Nix: Lands on IL
Rotowire
Nix (elbow) was placed on the 10-day IL.
He is dealing with a UCL tear in his right elbow, and it is unclear if he will undergo Tommy John surgery or opt for rest and rehab instead. Nix should be considered out indefinitely.
