Padres option rookie Paddack to Single-A

The San Diego Padres have optioned rookie right-hander Chris Paddack to Single-A, the team announced Wednesday.

Paddack was moved down in order to give the young hurler some rest and he isn't expected to be in the minors for long, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune's Kevin Acee.

The 23-year-old Paddack earned a spot in the Padres' rotation after a stellar spring.

Over the first 12 starts of his big-league career, Paddack is 4-4 with a 3.15 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and 72 strikeouts in 65 2/3 innings and has emerged as a front-runner for the National League Rookie of the Year award. He was mostly dominant over his first nine starts but struggled in outings against the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies.

His most recent start came Tuesday against the San Francisco Giants. Paddack allowed three runs on six hits across five innings of work, throwing 85 pitches in the process.

The Padres recalled right-handed reliever Robert Stock from Triple-A in a corresponding move.