PADRES PITCHER PIVETTA WALKS OFF MOUND DURING REHAB ASSIGNMENT

San Diego Padres pitcher Nick Pivetta left the mound after throwing 14 pitches during a rehabilitation assignment with Single-A Lake Elsinore on Tuesday. Pivetta threw a fastball on a 2-2 count, which narrowly missed the strike zone, before immediately walking toward the dugout and down the tunnel. Manager Craig Stammen reported after the game that Pivetta felt tightness in his elbow.

The 33-year-old right-hander suffered right elbow inflammation after four starts with the Padres earlier this season and was placed on the injured list on 14 April. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list on 2 June with a right flexor strain. The Padres currently have seven pitchers on their injured list. Pivetta posted a 4.50 ERA with 24 strikeouts over 16.0 innings before his initial injury forced him off the roster.

An injury that keeps Pivetta sidelined beyond 22 August would allow the Padres to void the final two years and $32 million of his contract, according to one report of the terms. Pivetta's walk-off follows his first rehab assignment since beginning his recovery from the elbow injury.