Jeremiah Estrada – San Diego Padres Biography, Contract, Net Worth Information

Jeremiah Estrada has quietly made a name for himself as an up-and-coming reliever in Major League Baseball. Born on November 1, 1998, in Indio, California, he entered the league after the Chicago Cubs picked him in the 6th round of the 2017 MLB Draft. These days, he’s pitching for the San Diego Padres.

Estrada’s playing under a one-year, $776,500 contract with the Padres. The deal’s fully guaranteed, giving him some well-earned stability as he keeps working at the major league level.

He’s worked his way up, step by step, through the minors before finally reaching the big leagues. Estrada spent time with the Iowa Cubs before making his MLB debut with Chicago.

According to financial reports, Estrada has built a net worth of approximately $1,088,458 from his baseball earnings—even though he’s still in the early pre-arbitration stage of his career.

Estrada’s journey really shows how long and winding baseball’s development process can be. He jumped straight from high school into pro ball, grinding through the farm system to earn a spot on the San Diego Padres roster.

With just over a year of service time as of January 2025, Estrada represents a new wave of bullpen arms trying to make their mark.

Early Life and Background

Jeremiah Ramiro Estrada’s story starts in Southern California. He found his love for baseball there, and those early years shaped his path to the majors with the Cubs and, later, the San Diego Padres.

Family and Education

Estrada was born on November 1, 1998, in Indio, California. He grew up in the Coachella Valley—a region that’s produced its fair share of baseball talent.

The warm climate gave him plenty of chances to work on his pitching. He went to Palm Desert High School in Palm Desert, California, and pretty quickly, he stood out as a young pitcher.

Scouts from all over noticed his velocity and control. His family backed his dreams, helping him juggle school and a serious baseball schedule.

Path to Professional Baseball

Estrada’s mound talent made him a top prospect in high school. His performance at Palm Desert led to the sixth round (195th overall) selection in the 2017 MLB Draft by the Chicago Cubs.

Instead of playing college ball, Estrada signed with the Cubs straight out of high school. That move showed he believed in himself and was ready to start his pro journey.

He entered the Cubs’ minor league system at just 18. He worked on his pitching mechanics and built up his strength, knowing he’d need it for the majors.

Estrada finally got his MLB debut on August 30, 2022, at 23—a dream come true for any kid who grew up loving baseball.

Professional Baseball Career

Estrada’s professional journey has been all about steady growth. He moved through the minor leagues, worked on his game, and finally got his shot in the majors.

Draft and Minor League Performance

The Cubs drafted Estrada in the sixth round (195th overall) in 2017, right out of Palm Desert High School. Early on, Tommy John surgery set him back, costing him precious development time.

Once he recovered, Estrada started showcasing his stuff as a reliever in the Cubs’ farm system. His minor league stats highlighted his power pitching and impressive strikeout rates. He’s been known to throw fastballs in the mid-90s.

In 2021 and 2022, he climbed quickly from High-A to Triple-A. His time in Triple-A really put him on the radar, thanks to his swing-and-miss ability—exactly what teams need in a bullpen arm.

Major League Debut

Estrada debuted with the Cubs on August 30, 2022. He faced the Toronto Blue Jays in his first big league appearance and, despite some nerves, showed flashes of what he could do.

He recorded his first MLB strikeout that day—a huge milestone. During his initial call-up, Estrada appeared in five games and posted a respectable ERA while facing major league hitters for the first time.

That short stint gave him valuable experience and a sense of where he needed to improve. His fastball and breaking pitches looked like they belonged, though he still had to work on his command.

Teams and Key Milestones

Estrada started with the Cubs organization, but now he’s with the San Diego Padres. The Padres, always in the playoff hunt, have used him in a range of relief roles.

He signed a one-year contract worth $776,500 with San Diego. That’s his biggest payday so far, and his net worth is estimated at $1,088,458.

Some of his key milestones:

• First MLB win
• Career-high in strikeouts
• Longest scoreless streak
• First taste of high-leverage, playoff-type games

He isn’t locked in as a rotation starter, but he’s still developing and working to earn a regular spot in the Padres’ bullpen.

Contracts and Earnings

Estrada’s career has included a few contract milestones, each reflecting his growth and value as a major leaguer. His earnings have grown as he’s moved between organizations.

Initial Contracts and Bonuses

The Cubs picked Estrada in the 6th round (195th overall) of the 2017 MLB Draft. As a highly regarded high school pitcher, he landed a signing bonus above the usual slot value.

Chicago put real faith in Estrada’s fastball and his developing off-speed pitches. His first minor league contracts followed the standard structure for drafted players, with small salary bumps as he moved up the ranks.

He spent those early years refining his mechanics in the Cubs organization, earning the modest salaries typical for minor leaguers.

Current Padres Contract

The Padres claimed Estrada off waivers in November 2023. That move boosted his financial outlook. He signed a one-year, $776,500 contract, fully guaranteed.

This is Estrada’s biggest contract yet. At $776,500 a year, he’s one of the more affordable bullpen options for the Padres, but it’s a big step up for him.

His current net worth sits at $1,088,458, mostly thanks to this new deal. It’s a clear jump from what he was making with the Cubs.

Offseason Transactions

The 2023 offseason changed Estrada’s career path in a big way. After the Cubs designated him for assignment and sent him to Triple-A, the Padres saw potential and claimed him off waivers on November 6, 2023.

That waiver claim gave Estrada a fresh start. He’d shown flashes of what he could do with his high-velocity fastball, but maybe just needed a change of scenery.

The Padres’ front office saw him as a high-upside bullpen arm. The timing worked for both sides—Estrada got more job security and better pay, while the Padres added a promising reliever without a huge commitment.

Net Worth and Financial Overview

Estrada has built a modest financial base during these early years in the majors. He’s managed his contracts carefully and taken advantage of new opportunities as they’ve come along.

Estimated Career Earnings

As of 2025, Estrada’s net worth is about $1,088,458, all from his pro baseball contracts. His current Padres deal pays him $776,500 a year, up from $741,500 in 2024.

He’s still under team control and won’t be eligible for salary arbitration until 2027. That’s likely when he’ll see a real jump in his earnings.

Endorsements and Sponsorships

Estrada hasn’t landed any huge national endorsement deals yet. But, he’s started building relationships with local brands and some baseball equipment companies.

San Diego businesses have taken notice as his profile grows with the Padres. Most of his endorsements so far focus on baseball gear.

His management team has gone for quality over quantity, hoping to build credibility and set him up for bigger deals if his on-field performance takes off.

Player Performance and Impact

Estrada has become known as a hard-throwing reliever with electric stuff. He racks up strikeouts, but he’s still working on his control.

Statistical Highlights

Even with limited MLB time, Estrada’s numbers have turned some heads. During his short stint with the Cubs in 2022, he put up some eye-catching stats. His fastball usually sits in the mid-90s, sometimes touching 97 or 98 mph.

In 2023, he struggled with consistency in the majors before the Padres claimed him in November. His ERA has gone up and down, which is pretty normal for young relievers.

Some key stats:

• MLB Debut: 2022 with the Cubs
• Minor League Track Record: High strikeout numbers at every level
• Pitch Arsenal: Four-seam fastball, slider, changeup

Strikeout and Walk Rates

Estrada’s best trait is his elite strikeout potential. In the minors, he regularly posted K/9 rates above 11.0. He can really miss bats.

His strikeout rate often hits 30% or higher, thanks to his explosive fastball and improving secondary pitches.

But, command has been an issue. His walk rate has usually been between 4 and 5 BB/9, which is pretty typical for developing power pitchers.

If Estrada can keep his strikeouts high and cut down on the free passes, he could become a real weapon in the bullpen.

Role Within the Bullpen

Since he joined the San Diego Padres, Estrada has tried to carve out a steady spot in their bullpen. Right now, his salary sits at $776,500, which kind of shows he’s still developing, but there’s some real upside there.

The Padres usually turn to Estrada for:

1. Middle relief work
2. Lower-leverage innings, at least at first
3. Sometimes, tougher spots if the matchups look good

Estrada’s stuff really pops in shorter outings, especially his fastball—it just plays up. When he’s on, he brings a lot of strikeout potential in those middle frames and helps bridge things to the late-inning arms.

Coaches have put a lot of effort into tweaking his mechanics, hoping he’ll keep that big velocity and movement but throw more strikes. If he can lock in his control, you could see him take on a bigger role down the line.