Kolek was traded from the Padres to the Royals on Thursday along with Ryan Bergert in exchange for Freddy Fermin, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Kolek was optioned to Triple-A earlier this week after logging a 4.18 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 56 strikeouts across 79.2 innings in the big-league rotation. Bergert and/or Kolek could get a look in the Royals rotation down the stretch, given the injuries to Cole Ragans (shoulder) and Kris Bubic (shoulder).
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Padres' Stephen Kolek: Sent down to El Paso
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The Padres optioned Kolek to Triple-A El Paso on Tuesday.
Kolek will lose his place in San Diego's rotation in favor of Ryan Bergert, who was recalled to start Tuesday's game against the Mets. Kolek has surrendered five earned runs in 11.2 innings across two starts since the All-Star break, but he figures to have a good chance to make another start for the Padres before the end of the season.
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Padres' Stephen Kolek: Awarded another start
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Kolek is slated to start Sunday's game against the Cardinals in St. Louis.
Kolek will make another turn through the San Diego rotation after he was recalled from Triple-A El Paso on Tuesday to fill the vacant fifth starter spot. Taking the hill for the big club for the first time since July 5, Kolek was dealt the loss against the Marlins after giving up three earned runs on eight hits and one walk over 5.2 innings. In 13 starts with San Diego this season, Kolek has gone 3-5 with a 4.28 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 54:23 K:BB across 73.2 innings.
Padres' Stephen Kolek: Notches quality start in win
Rotowire
Kolek (4-5) allowed two runs on four hits and three walks over six innings to pick up the win Sunday at St. Louis. He struck out two.
The San Diego righty limited the Cardinals offense to just one extra-base hit -- an Alec Burleson two-run homer in the sixth -- as he looked sharp in this 98-pitch appearance. This marks the fourth quality start of the season for Kolek, who should remain in the rotation for another turn given this performance. He'll carry a 4.18 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 56:26 K:BB across 79.2 frames into a rematch with the Cardinals at home next weekend.
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Padres' Stephen Kolek: Loses in MLB return
Rotowire
Kolek (3-5) took the loss Tuesday against Miami, allowing three runs on eight hits and one walk with five strikeouts across 5.2 innings.
Kolek returned after over two weeks at Triple-A El Paso to make Tuesday's start, and he fell one out short of his third quality start of the campaign. He's now allowed at least three runs in five of his last six starts, and he hasn't exceeded five strikeouts in nine outings. The 28-year-old has a 4.28 ERA across 73.2 big-league innings in 2025. If Kolek sticks in the rotation, his next start would likely come Sunday at St. Louis.
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Padres' Stephen Kolek: Recalled ahead of start
Rotowire
The Padres recalled Kolek from Triple-A El Paso on Tuesday.
Kolek -- who holds a 4.24 ERA and 49:22 K:BB across 68 major-league innings -- will draw the start Tuesday in Miami. Kyle Hart was also recalled and could form a piggyback situation with Kolek on Tuesday.
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Padres' Stephen Kolek: Drawing start Tuesday
Rotowire
Kolek has joined the Padres' taxi squad and will be called up from Triple-A El Paso to start Tuesday's game in Miami, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
Kolek will slide into the fifth slot in the Padres rotation, although he isn't necessarily guaranteed any more starts beyond Tuesday. The right-hander has made 12 starts for San Diego in 2025, posting a 4.24 ERA and 49:22 K:BB across 68 innings.
Kolek (3-4) allowed six runs on nine hits and one walk while striking out two batters over 5.1 innings in a loss to Texas on Saturday.
Kolek struggled throughout the outing -- of the six innings in which he pitched, he was charged with at least one run in four of them. It's never a positive for a starting pitcher to allow as many homers as he notches strikeouts, which is exactly what Kolek did Saturday with two of each. The right-hander's six runs allowed tied a season-worst mark, and the nine hits were the most he has surrendered in an outing this year. Kolek has been fading of late, giving up three or more earned runs in four of his past five starts. That's pushed his season ERA up to 4.24 through 68 innings.
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Padres' Stephen Kolek: Sent down Sunday
Rotowire
Kolek was optioned to Triple-A El Paso on Sunday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
Kolek will head to El Paso after posting a disappointing 6.23 ERA and 1.38 WHIP with 20 punchouts over 26 innings in his last five starts. The cold stretch came on the heels of back-to-back scoreless outings for the right-hander, and he will now look to reset at Triple-A. The move made room for Kyle Hart to join the major-league roster, and Hart is expected to operate as the team's bulk reliever behind opener David Morgan against the Rangers on Sunday.
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Padres' Stephen Kolek: Fans five in no-decision
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Kolek allowed one run on three hits and one walk over 5.2 frames in a no-decision Sunday at Cincinnati. He struck out five.
After coughing up three or more earned runs in each of his three previous starts, Kolek looked much sharper in this 71-pitch outing over which he fired 44 strikes. The San Diego right-hander scattered three singles, with the only run he conceded coming on an Elly De La Cruz single in the sixth inning. Kolek wraps up his June with a respectable 3.38 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 23:11 K:BB across 32 total frames. The 28-year-old is currently scheduled to make his next start against the Rangers at home next weekend.
Padres' Stephen Kolek: Goes just 4.1 frames in defeat
Rotowire
Kolek (3-3) took the loss against Washington on Monday, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits and one walk while striking out five batters over 4.1 innings.
Kolek managed to get through three scoreless frames before things fell apart for him in the fourth. In that inning, he gave up four runs on four hits, and he hurt himself with a throwing error at the start of the frame. Kolek came out for the fifth, but he exited with one out after giving up a single to CJ Abrams, who eventually came around to score. The 4.1 innings tied a season low for Kolek, and both instances have come over his past three starts. Over that stretch, he's given up 11 earned runs across 15 frames.
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Padres' Stephen Kolek: Grinds out quality start
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Kolek allowed three runs on six hits and one walk while striking out three batters over 6.1 innings in a no-decision against the Dodgers on Wednesday.
Kolek made it through four scoreless frames before the Dodgers tagged him for three runs in the fifth. The right-hander hung around for a scoreless sixth and even remained in the game for the start of the seventh, though he exited after allowing two of the first three batters he faced to reach base in that frame. Kolek was in line for the loss at the time of his departure, but San Diego got him off the hook with a pair of runs in the ninth inning. The quality start was the third of the campaign for Kolek and his first since May 22. He's at a tolerable 3.59 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 37:19 K:BB through nine starts spanning 52.2 frames on the campaign.
Kolek (3-2) allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out five over 4.1 innings to take the loss versus the Diamondbacks on Friday.
Kolek had come away with a pair of no-decisions in his last two outings despite covering 11.1 scoreless innings in that stretch. He had some trouble with the Diamondbacks, including allowing two solo home runs, and a rally in the fifth inning was enough to knock him from the game at 82 pitches (52 strikes). Kolek is now at a 3.50 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 34:18 K:BB across 46.1 innings over eight starts this season. His next start is projected to be on the road versus the Dodgers.
Padres' Stephen Kolek: Records 5.2 scoreless frames again
Rotowire
Kolek didn't factor in the decision against Milwaukee on Saturday, tossing 5.2 scoreless innings during which he allowed three hits and four walks while striking out two batters.
Kolek struggled with his control, as he threw just 51 of 88 pitches for strikes and issued a season-high four free passes. However, the right-hander didn't allow any extra-base hits and let just one Brewer get to third base. This was the second straight start in which Kolek finished with exactly 5.2 scoreless frames, and he's now gone 15.1 innings since last giving up a run. Kolek has been a solid asset for the Padres since moving into the rotation in early May, posting a 3.00 ERA and 1.24 WHIP despite a mediocre 29:16 K:BB across 42 frames.
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