Padres re-sign infielder to minor league contract

The San Diego Padres on Sunday brought back infielder/outfielder Nick Solak on a new minor league contract after he briefly entered free agency. The 31-year-old will report to Triple-A El Paso, where he has been one of the team’s most productive hitters this season.

Solak became a free agent after declining an outright assignment to El Paso following his recent designation for assignment. Because he had previously been outrighted during his career, he was eligible to reject the assignment. Despite testing the open market, he quickly rejoined San Diego on another minor league deal.

The veteran originally signed with the Padres before the 2026 season and opened the year with the El Paso Chihuahuas. In 54 Triple-A games, he owns a .333/.412/.512 slash line with nine home runs, 40 RBIs and five stolen bases. His offensive production earned him a promotion to the major league roster on June 13 after Miguel Andujar landed on the injured list with a hamstring strain.

Solak’s stay in San Diego was short. He appeared in four games, going 1-for-7 (.143) with one RBI and one walk before Andujar returned from the injured list after just eight days, leading to Solak being designated for assignment on June 21.

A former second-round selection by the New York Yankees in the 2016 MLB Draft, Solak made his MLB debut with the Texas Rangers in 2019 and was voted the team’s Rookie of the Year that season. During his major league career, he has spent time with the Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers, Pittsburgh Pirates and Padres.

Across 995 major league plate appearances, Solak owns a .249/.325/.367 batting line with a 91 wRC+. Since the beginning of the 2024 season, however, he has consistently performed at the Triple-A level, compiling a .325/.410/.482 slash line with a 133 wRC+.

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