Nading makes MLB spring training appearance with San Diego
Chad Nading
The 28-year-old relief pitcher today made his first appearance with the San Diego Padres in the eighth inning of a 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Glendale, Arizona.
Nading, of East High fame, entered the MLB exhibition game with the bases loaded and promptly hit Omar Estevez with the second pitch after getting ahead 0-1 to allow a run to score.
The 6-foot-6 rocket right-hander then struck out O’Koyea Dickson to end the threat.
Nading is the second Alaska pitcher to appear in a spring training game this month after Juneau’s Dylan Baker of the Cleveland Indians threw an inning on March 9.
In 2013, Nading participated in extended spring training with the Boston Red Sox.
Before and after that he bounced around independent leagues all over the country and even spent time in Japan with the Ishikawa Million Stars.
By 2015, however, he was out of the game altogether.
Last year, he returned to the game with the Wichita Wingnuts of the American Association. He had incredible success out of the bullpen with a 1.70 ERA in 43 games to help Wichita reach the championship series.
Nading was twice drafted by MLB teams, first in 2006 in the 36th round by the Detroit Tigers out of high school and then again in 2009 in the 37th round by the Texas Rangers out of UNLV.