Joe Wieland set to make his long-awaited return to the San Diego Padres
By Joel Burdeos
San Diego, CA- Joe Wieland will take the mound for the Padres today against the Rockies for his first big league start since 2012. Wieland last pitched in the Big Leagues on May 6, 2012, before undergoing “Tommy John” surgery.Wieland missed all of last season and the first half of this season.
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Joe Wieland made his debut for the Padres on April 14, 2012, but was only able to make five starts before being shut down.
The Padres acquired Joe Wieland along with Robbie Erlin from the Texas Rangers in 2011 for former all-star reliever Mike Adams.
Joe Wieland expressed to Adam Lichtenstein of MLB.com his desire to return to the Major League’s.
"“It’s something I’ve been dreaming about the last two and a half years,” Wieland said on Wednesday. “I don’t necessarily think it’s going to feel like my [Major League] debut, but I can tell you it’s going to be about as close as you can get.“Two and a half years is a long time. There were a lot of times I thought, especially this year, where I lost a lot of sleep thinking I might not make it back ever.”"
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The Padres have been waiting a long time for Wieland to return to the rotation, as he was once a top pitching prospect and was expected to be a mainstay, along with Robbie Erlin in the Padres rotation. Unfortunately Wileland was a victim to the arm injury plague that has haunted the Padres the past few seasons and now with all the talent in the Padres rotation, Wieland hopes to battle to secure the 5th spot in the rotation heading into next season.
With Wieland back….Padres fans now await the return of injured top pitching prospects Casey Kelly and Cory Luebke as well.