Dodgers' Keone Kela: Finds work in Dodgers organization
Rotowire
Kela signed a minor-league contract with the Dodgers on Thursday and was assigned to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Kela quickly found a new organization after the Diamondbacks released him from his minor-league deal Wednesday. After undergoing Tommy John surgery last May, Kela was out of commission to begin the season before he began a rehab assignment at the Diamondbacks' rookie-level Arizona Complex League affiliate shortly after the All-Star break. The 29-year-old righty eventually settled at Triple-A Reno in early August and turned in a 5.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 11:5 K:BB in nine innings out of the bullpen before being cut loose.
Kela (elbow) signed a minor-league contract with the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.
Kela underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2021, so he isn't expected to be ready to pitch until sometime in the middle of the 2022 campaign. However, he'll be a strong candidate to join the major-league bullpen once he's healthy. The right-hander has battled injuries in each of the last two seasons but posted a 2.12 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in 29.2 innings across 32 relief appearances with the Pirates in 2019.
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Keone Kela: Becomes free agent
Rotowire
The Padres declined their team option on Kela (elbow) on Friday, making him a free agent, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Having undergone Tommy John surgery in May, Kela is unlikely to pitch before the middle of next season. The righty hasn't posted solid numbers since 2019, but a team searching for cheap bullpen help figures to give Kela a shot in 2022.
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Padres' Keone Kela: Shifts to 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Padres transferred Kela (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Sunday.
The transaction opens up a spot on the 40-man roster for outfielder Wil Myers, who was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list in a corresponding move. Kela has already been ruled out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, so his move to the 60-day IL won't have any bearing on his timeline to rejoin the Padres.
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Padres' Keone Kela: Undergoes Tommy John surgery
Rotowire
Kela underwent Tommy John surgery Wednesday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
Kela suffered a forearm injury May 8 and recently had a second opinion that recommended surgery. The right-hander will now miss the remainder of the season and will likely be sidelined to begin the 2022 campaign. Kela only made three relief appearances in 2020 due to a forearm injury and made 12 appearances for the Padres in 2021. The 28-year-old was playing on an expiring deal, but he'll be on the books for 2022 and earn a salary of $800,000 after his option vested due to the injury, according to Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune.
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Padres' Keone Kela: Will seek second opinion
Rotowire
Kela will travel to Texas on Monday to receive a second opinion on his injured right arm, the Associated Press reports.
Kela went on the 10-day injured list May 8 due to what was deemed a strained right forearm. He doesn't appear to be anywhere close to making a return, and the decision to seek a second opinion on the injury makes for an ominous outlook. Manager Jayce Tingler stated Sunday that the team will provide an update on Kela following the results of the second opinion, per 97.3 The Fan.
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Padres' Keone Kela: Lands on injured list
Rotowire
Kela was placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained right forearm Saturday.
Forearm issues are sometimes the first sign of a very serious injury for a pitcher, but it's not yet clear if that's the case for Kela. He'll be unavailable for at least 10 days, with Miguel Diaz getting called up to join the bullpen in a corresponding move.
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Padres' Keone Kela: Managing forearm tightness
Rotowire
Kela exited Friday's game against the Giants due to forearm tightness, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
Kela faced just one batter and gave up a solo home run prior to his removal Friday. Whether the right-hander will require a trip to the injured list remains to be seen.
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Padres' Keone Kela: Exits with apparent injury
Rotowire
Kela left Friday's game against the Giants in the bottom of the seventh inning with an apparent injury, Bob Scanlan of Bally Sports San Diego reports.
Kela allowed a go-ahead home run to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning, and he was immediately removed from a game with an injury. The nature and severity of the issue aren't yet known.
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Padres' Keone Kela: Back from injured list
Rotowire
Kela (shoulder) was activated from the 10-day injured list Sunday.
The 28-year-old landed on the injured list April 22 with tightness in his right shoulder, but he'll rejoin the Friars after spending the 10-day minimum on the shelf. Kela allowed one earned run over his first 7.2 innings of the season before surrendering three runs in his final appearance before landing on the injured list.
Kela was placed on the injured list Thursday with right shoulder tightness, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
Kela was roughed up on Wednesday night, as he allowed three earned runs and coughed up two home runs. This injury may well have been the cause, as he had pitched to a 1.17 ERA and 1.04 WHIP with an 11:2 K:BB across 7.2 innings prior to that appearance. Though no timeline has been given, there's a strong chance that Kela will be out beyond the minimum 10 days, as he battled shoulder injuries in both 2017 and 2019 and has also suffered from elbow trouble throughout his career.
Kela (2-1) allowed three earned runs on two hits and a walk while striking out one in an inning of relief Wednesday against the Brewers. He took the loss.
Kela did not have his command in this one. He left the ball over the plate, resulting in a pair of sixth-inning home runs by Omar Narvaez and Jace Peterson -- blowing a 2-1 lead and handing him his first loss of the season. The veteran reliever's ERA went from 1.17 to 4.15 after Wednesday's performance.
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Padres' Keone Kela: Earns win in relief
Rotowire
Kela (2-0) pitched a scoreless eighth inning on one hit while striking out one, receiving the win Sunday over the Dodgers.
After 5.2 scoreless innings to start the season, Kela blew the lead against the Dodgers in his previous appearance Friday. He was able to return to dominance Sunday by earning the win and lowering his ERA to 1.17. In addition, Kela has recorded at least one strikeout in all of his eight relief appearances. The 28-year-old isn't currently in line for save chances, but he is proving to be a solid option should any future opportunities arise.
Kela (1-0) struck out two batters during a 1-2-3 seventh inning as he picked up his first win of the season against the Giants on Tuesday night.
Kela entered the game in the seventh after six strong innings from Yu Darvish and quickly retired the side on 16 pitches. The 28-year-old was able to notch his first win of the new campaign after Victor Caratini hit a two-run homer in the bottom half of the inning to give the Padres a 3-1 lead. Kela has gotten off to a good start, striking out five while allowing just one hit over three shutout innings.
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Padres' Keone Kela: Available in relief Saturday
Rotowire
Kela (forearm) is scheduled to pitch as a reliever in Saturday's spring game against the Dodgers, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Kela dealt with forearm tightness over the final month of the 2020 season, but he'll make his spring debut with his new club Saturday. Barring any setbacks, the right-hander will presumably be able to build up in time for Opening Day.
Kela (forearm) signed a contract with the Padres on Sunday, Andersen Pickard of MLBDailyDish.com reports.
Kela missed the final month of the 2020 season due to forearm tightness, and it's not yet clear whether he's fully healthy. The terms of his deal with the Padres aren't known, but he should serve as a late reliever for his new club after posting a 2.27 ERA and 1.07 WHIP over 31.2 innings across the past two seasons with the Pirates.
