The Chicago Cubs let a struggling pitcher go after the 2023 season and he has now become one of the most important pieces to a San Diego Padres team that is pushing for a World Series trophy.

Jeremiah Estrada was a sixth-round selection in the 2017 MLB draft by the Cubs. While he was never expected to be “the next big thing,” he certainly was able to drum up a little bit of excitement.

Estrada peaked at No. 17 in the Chicago farm system back in 2018 per the MLB.com prospect rankings.

He was always a pitcher that flashed a lot of potential, but there was never too much confidence that he could do it at a consistent rate. His fastball had vastly differing speeds and his changeup also showed a bit of potential, according to his scouting report.

The California native had a terrible 2019 campaign and didn’t pitch at all during 2020 due to the pandemic wiping that season out. Once 2021 came and he got back on the mound, though, there was hope again.

By 2022, he had brought his ERA down to just 1.30 over 48.1 innings of work in High-A all the way up to Triple A.

He made his MLB debut as a COVID-19 replacement player as he struck out two and walked one against the Toronto Blue Jays, but was sent back down right after the game. He was called back up in September and finished the year with a 3.18 ERA.

Estrada was given another shot in 2023, but struggled mightily. His 6.75 ERA makes things look even better than they were, as he completely fell apart over his final five games for the team.

He was waived in November and was eventually claimed by the Padres. The once outcast has now become a bonafide star in the San Diego bullpen.

There were a couple of rough stretches for him this season, but he both opened and ended the regular season playing at a very high rate.

He set an MLB record when he struck out 13 consecutive batters back in May.

Over his final month of work he posted a 0.84 ERA in 13 games and 10.2 innings.

A big reason for his success is his fastball ticking up a bit to over 97 MPH on average and the introduction of a killer splitter to his repetoire.

Given the struggles of the Cubs bullpen this season, it likely would have helped to have this version of Estrada sitting around.

Lily Mae Good

OBITUARY

Lily was born in Chicago, Illinois on December 25, 1931 to Lillian Rajknecht-Williamson and John Chester Williamson. The family moved to San Diego where she graduated from Grossmont High School in 1950 after winning the Maytime Band Review Drum Majorette first place. Lily sang in multiple church choirs in San Diego County and was a talented musician her entire life. She worked as the office manager at Eggert and Baughman CPA Firm in La Mesa for forty years and Rutledge Gradall, and was the secretary for La Mesa Central Congressional Church. Lily loved animals, music, cooking and baking (especially for her church family) but most of all being a “Band Parent” At Mount Miguel High School. She was a giving person and cared for so many throughout her lifetime.

Services will be at The Little Chapel of the Roses at Glen Abbey Memorial Park on Monday, October 7 at 9:30 AM. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Mt. Miguel High School Band: 8585 Blossom Lane, Spring Valley, CA 91977, or PayPal on Facebook MMMSCP

A newly-approved bill signed in late September by Gov. Gavin Newsom allows cities within San Diego County, or the county itself, to ban electric bicycles for riders who are younger than 12 years old.

The bill, AB 2234, was written by Assemblymember Tasha Boerner, who is the California State Representative for the 77th District that includes much of coastal San Diego County. She shared that while she is a mother of kids who enjoy using their e-bikes to get around, there needs to be more regulations around how they are used.

“I think it is a great alternative, but what I saw was increasingly younger kids having e-bikes,” she told NBC 7.

The approval of the bill marks the start of a pilot program exclusive to San Diego County that could prohibit kids who are under the age of 12 from operating class 1 and 2 electric bicycles. Under existing law, they are already not allowed to use class 3 e-bikes, so this would ban them from using them altogether. 

“Any city or the county itself can opt into the pilot by passing a local ordinance after Jan. 1,” Boerner said. “They have to have a diversion program and they have to have reporting requirements because we want to get the data from this to make this statewide.” 

It comes after a rapid rise in traffic collisions involving bikes and e-bikes across the state, as well as a handful of deadly crashes around San Diego County. In Carlsbad in 2022, Christine Hawk Embree was killed on Aug. 7 while riding her e-bike with her daughter near the corner of Basswood Avenue and Valley Street in Carlsbad. The following week, on Aug. 15, 68-year-old Solana Beach resident Brad Catcott and two others were seriously hurt when a motorcycle crashed into a bicycle on an ocean-front street in Carlsbad, authorities reported.

Then, in Encinitas last year, 15-year-old Brodee Champlain-Kingman was riding his bike near the intersection of El Camino Real and Santa Fe Drive. The San Diego Sheriff’s Department said he rode into the path of a work van, was hit and was taken to the hospital where he later died.

“We want our kids to get home safe,” Boerner said. 

The pilot program is authorized from Jan. 1 2025, to Jan. 1, 2029. NBC 7 reached out to coastal communities in the region — including Carlsbad and Encinitas — and asked if they would plan to participate in the pilot.

The city of Oceanside referred to the Oceanside Police Department and they have not responded. The city of San Diego said it is too early to know and that they will likely have more information on their consideration in the coming days or weeks. 

Solana Beach Mayor Lesa Heebner sent a statement to NBC 7 that said she “definitely” wants this in front of the city council. She added that, recently, many residents have expressed concern about young e-bike riders not knowing the rules of the road. 

“This Bill could go a long way to ensure a safer experience among e-bike riders, pedestrians and drivers. I’m looking forward to hearing from our community, then deliberating to determine if we’ll opt in to this pilot program,” she wrote. 

The city of Solana Beach shared they also work closely with their school districts to develop education programs on safe usage that would continue as they consider the pilot program.

The city of Encinitas shared a statement with NBC 7 that the bill “aligns with our City’s promoting safe and sustainable transportation options, particularly given the popularity of e-bikes among our youth.” They added they feel the pilot program is an opportunity to “assess the impact of e-bike use by younger kids.” 

They plan to bring an agenda item forward for the city council to consider soon.