JP Sears Bio
John Patrick Sears (born February 19, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball. Sears has previously played in MLB for the New York Yankees and the Oakland Athletics. A right-handed starting pitcher by trade, Sears progressed from The Citadel to professional baseball after being selected in the 11th round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft by the Seattle Mariners.
Early Life and Background
John Patrick Sears attended Wilson Hall, a private school in Sumter, South Carolina, where he developed as a high-school pitcher before enrolling at The Citadel. At The Citadel he played college baseball for The Citadel Bulldogs and established himself as a prospect capable of handling a starter’s workload. His college experience and performance against collegiate competition drew attention from professional scouts during the 2017 draft cycle.
Following the 2017 draft, Sears signed with the Seattle Mariners and began his professional career in short-season and low-A ball. He spent his first professional season with the Everett AquaSox and the Clinton LumberKings, compiling a 1–2 record and a 0.65 earned run average over 27 2/3 innings, an early sign of his ability to miss bats and manage innings in developmental settings.
Path to Baseball
Sears’ selection in the 11th round of the 2017 draft set a steady, development-focused path toward the major leagues. After signing, he spent time in the Mariners’ system before being traded to the New York Yankees in November 2017 as part of a package deal. The move placed Sears in an organization known for structuring pitching development and gave him opportunities through multiple minor-league levels.
Across the minor leagues Sears made incremental progress. In 2018 with the Charleston RiverDogs he started ten games, posting a 2.67 ERA with 54 strikeouts in 54 innings. The following year with the Tampa Tarpons he worked 48 2/3 innings with a 4.07 ERA. After the 2020 minor-league season was canceled, Sears returned in 2021 to produce a breakout year between the Somerset Patriots and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, going 10–2 with a 3.46 ERA and 136 strikeouts in 104 innings.
JP Sears Career
Early Career (2017–2021)
Sears entered affiliated professional baseball in 2017 as a late-round draft pick who relied on command and a repertoire that included a fastball with swing-and-miss potential. Early stopovers in short-season and single-A ball allowed him to hone sequencing and stamina. The 2018 season at Charleston showed control and strikeout capability, and the 2021 campaign across Double-A and Triple-A established Sears as a major-league candidate.
After the 2021 season the New York Yankees added Sears to their 40-man roster. The roster move reflected his elevated prospect status and positioned him for a major-league opportunity in the following year. Sears’ 2021 strikeout total and innings pitched made him a candidate for a rotation spot and for regular assignments as he moved onto the major-league depth chart.
New York Yankees Breakthrough (2022)
Sears made the Yankees’ Opening Day roster in 2022 and made his major-league debut on April 13, 2022. Three days later he earned his first major-league win on April 16. The early major-league appearances offered Sears experience at the highest level and exposed him to a full big-league schedule, though he was optioned back to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after early starts as the club managed roster needs.
During his time in the Yankees organization Sears gained innings and live at-bats against major-league hitters, helping to refine his approach and sequencing. His debut season in the majors established the baseline from which he would move in a midseason trade, after which he would assume a larger role as a consistent starter.
Oakland Athletics Breakthrough (2022–2025)
On August 1, 2022, the New York Yankees traded JP Sears to the Oakland Athletics as part of a multi-player deal. Oakland assigned him to the Las Vegas Aviators before promoting him to the Athletics’ major-league roster, where he made his first appearance for the club on August 10. The move opened the door for Sears to transition into a regular rotation role.
In 2023 Sears emerged as a workhorse for the Athletics. He led Oakland’s staff in games started with 32, innings pitched with 172 1/3, and strikeouts with 161, finishing the season with a 5–14 record and a 4.54 ERA. The following seasons featured both highlights and struggles: in 2024 he carried a no-hit bid into the seventh inning on April 11 and completed a 6 1/3-inning, 1–0 victory, and over the 2024 season posted an 11–13 record with a 4.38 ERA and 137 strikeouts across 180 2/3 innings. In 2025 he made 22 starts for Oakland, logging a 7–9 record and a 4.95 ERA with 97 strikeouts over 111 innings.
San Diego Padres Era (2025–Present)
On July 31, 2025, the Oakland Athletics traded Sears and Mason Miller to the San Diego Padres in exchange for several prospects. Sears made his first appearance for the Padres on August 4, 2025, allowing five runs on ten hits with four strikeouts across five innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was optioned to the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas the following day as the Padres adjusted their roster and pitching depth.
Sears began the 2026 season optioned to Triple-A El Paso. The move reflected organizational depth decisions and the need for Sears to regain consistency in a new system. As of mid-2026 his major-league totals through June 30, 2026, include a 32–42 win–loss record, a 4.57 earned run average and 475 strikeouts, marking the cumulative results of his work across multiple clubs and seasons.
Driving Style and Strengths
Sears operates as a traditional starting pitcher with a focus on pitch sequencing, stamina and the ability to generate swings and misses. He has shown an ability to work deep into games when his command is on target, producing larger inning totals in full seasons and generating strikeouts that anchor his value as a mid-rotation starter. His development has emphasized consistent innings and strikeout upside.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key moments in Sears’ career include his major-league debut on April 13, 2022, his first big-league win on April 16, 2022, leading the Oakland Athletics in starts, innings and strikeouts in 2023, and a near no-hit performance on April 11, 2024. His midseason trade to the San Diego Padres in July 2025 was a notable roster transaction that shifted his career to a new organization.
JP Sears Career Wins
Across his professional career Sears has accumulated wins at multiple levels of play, with verified major-league totals reflected in his cumulative record. His first professional seasons showed low ERAs in short-season ball, and his major-league work produced his first wins in 2022 and his most extensive innings and strikeout totals during his time with the Oakland Athletics.
Major League Highlights
Sears’ major-league highlights include his April 16, 2022, first MLB win with the New York Yankees and his full-season workload with the Oakland Athletics in 2023 when he paced the club in starts, innings and strikeouts. The 2024 season featured a one-run victory in which he worked into the seventh inning while carrying a no-hit bid, and the 2024 and 2025 campaigns added further starting experience and strikeout totals.
Other Wins & Perfromances
In the minors Sears posted standout results early in his professional career, including a 0.65 ERA over 27 2/3 innings in 2017 and solid strikeout rates in 2018 and 2021. Those performances created the foundation for his ascent to a major-league rotation role.
JP Sears Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
No public family or birthplace details are provided in the verified inputs beyond education and early baseball background. Sears’ documented early years center on his development through Wilson Hall and The Citadel and his progression into professional baseball.
Personal Life
Public records supplied for this profile do not list a spouse, children or other personal-life details that are suitable for verification. Sears’ public profile is focused on his collegiate and professional baseball career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season saw Sears make 22 starts for the Oakland Athletics, posting a 7–9 record with a 4.95 ERA and 97 strikeouts over 111 innings before being traded to the San Diego Padres on July 31, 2025. His first outing for the Padres on August 4, 2025, was a challenging assignment in which he allowed five runs over five innings; he was optioned to Triple-A the following day as the Padres managed their rotation and depth.
Sears entered the 2026 season optioned to Triple-A El Paso, an assignment that reflected the Padres’ roster configuration and provided Sears with an opportunity to work on consistency and command. The 2025 season remains a reference point for his innings capacity and his role as a mid-rotation starter who can provide strikeouts and innings when in form.