MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Former West Virginia University right-handed pitcher Ryan Bergert has been called up to the Major Leagues by the San Diego Padres, the club announced on Friday.
 
Bergert is set to join the Padres bullpen on Friday as San Diego hosts the Tampa Bay Rays. The Canton, Ohio native is joining the big-league club after starting the year in Triple-A El Paso. He was the opening day starter for the Chihuahuas and in five starts this season is 0-1 with a 5.16 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 22.2 innings.
 
Bergert, a sixth-round pick by the Padres in 2021, has logged 340.2 innings in five minor league seasons with 380 strikeouts and a 4.33 ERA. He is San Diego's 21st-ranked prospect.
 
In two seasons with WVU, Bergert went 4-1 with a 2.30 ERA in 21 appearances. He struck out 68 batters in 58.2 innings. His Mountaineer career was cut short, first due to the COVID-19 pandemic during his sophomore year in 2020 and then to Tommy John Surgery before his junior year.
 
Bergert will become the 30th Mountaineer to play in the major leagues. He'll join St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Victor Scott II as former WVU players currently on major league rosters. Former Mountaineer pitchers Alek Manaoh (Blue Jays), John Means (Guardians), and Michael Grove (Dodgers) are currently on the injured list with their respective teams.
 
Bergert is also the second former Mountaineer pitcher from San Diego's 2021 draft class to get called up to the major leagues after Jackson Wolf made his debut with the Padres in 2023.
 
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