Anderson Espinoza

Espinoza joined the Dominican Summer League Red Sox 2 on June 1, 2015. He made quick work of that circuit, allowing only two earned runs on 13 hits and two walks for a 1.20 ERA, while striking out 21 batters in 15.0 innings. In addition to a strong statistical performance, his fastball was reported to touch 99 mph sometimes. He then earned a promotion to the rookie level Gulf Coast League Red Sox late in the month.[5] Instead of finding himself challenged, Espinoza was even more dominant there, giving up just three earned runs in 40 innings, good for a 0.68 ERA to go with a .170 opponents batting average and 40 strikeouts against nine walks,[1] helping the GCL Red Sox clinch their second title in a row. The precocious right-hander completed his third level of the season with his promotion to the Low A Greenville Drive, and made his first pitching appearance on September 5. With his debut, Espinoza became the first pitcher in his age 17 season to make a start in the full-season Single A South Atlantic League since 2006, when Deolis Guerra did it for the New York Mets affiliate Hagerstown Suns.[6] In 15 starts between three levels, Espinoza posted a 1.23 ERA with 0.99 WHIP while striking out 65 in 58⅓ innings. He was kept on a strict four-inning limit per game.[7]

Espinoza opened 2016 at Greenville, and [1] following his trade to the San Diego Padres for Drew Pomeranz on July 14, he was assigned to Class A Fort Wayne TinCaps. Espinoza finished 2016 with a 6–11 record with a 4.49 ERA.[8] Espinoza started the 2017 season on the disabled list with an elbow injury. On July 28, 2017, he was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow. He underwent Tommy John surgery which sidelined him for the remainder of the 2017 season and the entire 2018 season.

The Padres added Espinoza to their 40-man roster after the 2018 season.[9] Espinoza underwent a second Tommy John surgery on April 22, 2019 and missed the entire 2019 season.