Sunday Stretch: Colin Rea ready to prove himself to Padres again

Tommy Birch | The Des Moines Register

Colin Rea pitched well enough in the minor leagues that he earned a six-game stint in the big leagues with the San Diego Padres in 2015.

Rea then pitched so well the following spring that he won a job in San Diego’s starting rotation for the 2016 season.

The Iowa native must prove himself once again in 2018. He has to show that he is healthy and can once again help the Padres after he misses the entire 2017 season with an injury.

“I think there’s no reason for me not to come back better in all aspects of the game,” Rea said.

Rea, a right-handed pitcher, suffered a torn UCL that required Tommy John surgery. The timing of the injury couldn’t have been any worse for Rea, who was just making a name for himself in the big leagues.

A 12th-round pick by the Padres in 2011, the former Cascade star worked his way up through the minors and made his big-league debut in 2015, when he went 2-2 with a 4.26 earned run average in six games with the Padres.

After pitching his way into San Diego's starting rotation the following spring, he went 5-5 with a 4.98 earned run average in 19 games before being shipped off the Miami Marlins, who were looking for pitching to help get them into the postseason.

But Rea appeared in just one game with the Marlins and was sent back to the Padres when questions surrounding his health at the time of the trade popped up. He tried a platelet-rich plasma injection and stem-cell therapy, but that didn’t work. So Rea underwent surgery that cost him all of 2017.

“It’s tough,” he said. “But, it’s one of those things that you’ve got to tell yourself that there’s nothing you can do about it. I’m going to miss the whole year no matter what. So, there’s really no sense in dwelling over this.”

Instead, Rea has been focused on working his way back to health. He’s working out at San Diego’s spring training facility, where he’s been throwing from about 90 feet. The hope is to start throwing bullpens in early August and maybe throw a live batting practice and simulated game or two. After that, he’ll shut things down the first week in October so he can have a normal offseason of rest.

“Everything’s going great,” Rea said. “I haven’t had any hiccups along the way — knock on wood.”

He’s kept up on how the Padres are doing by watching games with his wife on television. Rea has tried to take advantage of his time away from the field.

He’s added some valuable weight to his frame, made some tweaks to his mechanics and watched a ton of baseball to pick up anything he can to help him.

“This is a chance to get better and this is a chance to improve the stuff that you need to work on in your game, because you’re always going to want to improve on something and learn new things,” Rea said. “We have so much time down here. There’s plenty of time to work on all that stuff.”

With all the time away from the field, the 26-year-old has had plenty of opportunities to reflect on a crazy 2016 season that he called a “whirlwind.”

“I’m probably going to get traded again at some point in my career,” Rea said. “It was a good thing getting traded at the time — other than me getting hurt — with them being in contention in the wild card and maybe having a chance to make the playoffs. When you look at it that way, that was good. But at the same time, I’m glad to be back in San Diego.”

Rea can’t wait to get back on the mound.

“I’m definitely anxious,” he said.

Around the Horn

A.J. Puk has reportedly been promoted to Double-A Midland. Puk, a left-handed pitcher from Cedar Rapids, went 4-5 with a 3.69 ERA in 14 games with Class-A advanced Stockton. The 2016 first-round Oakland Athletics pick struck out 98 hitters in 61 innings.

Former Norwalk star Joel Hanrahan helped represent the Pittsburgh Pirates during the Major League Baseball Draft. Hanrahan, who pitched four seasons with the Pirates, is an assistant pitching coach for Pittsburgh’s Class-A short season affiliate, the West Virginia Black Bears.

Ex-Dallas Center-Grimes star Tony Watson, who began the season as the closer for the Pirates, lost his job due to some struggles, but is hoping to get it back. Watson, who has put together some good outings after losing the closer role, was asked how he would know when he’s ready to have the job back.

“I don’t know,” Watson said with a laugh, according to triblive.com. “That’s for (management) to figure out. But as for where I’m at now, I feel good.”

Coming Attractions

The Cedar Rapids Kernels will hand out foam fingers to the first 1,000 fans at their June 18 game. First pitch is 2:05 p.m.

The first 1,000 fans at the Quad Cities River Bandits game on June 23 will receive a free pint glass. First pitch is 6:35 p.m.

The River Bandits will also hand out John Jay bobbleheads to the first 1,500 fans at their June 24 game. First pitch is 6:35 p.m.

High Heat

John Swanda's high school career has come to a close with his decision to sign with the Los Angeles Angels. It's a great opportunity and the right decision by Swanda to finish his high school career and begin his professional career. But Swanda becomes another player in a long list of Iowa high school stars who won't be around for the end of the high school season since it's played in the summer. Once again, the timing of the season might be worth looking at.