SAN DIEGO — Seneca Valley graduate and right-handed pitcher Cory Mazzoni was designated for assignment by the San Diego Padres earlier this week.

Mazzoni, 26, has been on the disabled list since making a couple of relief appearances for Class AAA El Paso early this spring.

“I felt some tightness in my shoulder during that second outing,” Mazzoni said. “I didn’t want to push it or take any chances with it.

“It felt like the same thing that happened to me before.”

Mazzoni was shut down during 2015 spring training with the New York Mets because of a shoulder problem. A starting pitcher in the Mets system, He was dealt to San Diego last season, was moved to the bullpen and excelled in Class AAA. He averaged 12 strikeouts per nine innings with El Paso and had a couple of brief stints with the Padres.

Mazzoni struggled at the big league level, allowing 23 hits and 20 earned runs in 8.2 innings pitched — covering eight relief appearances — with San Diego last season.

“They needed to create a spot on the 40-man roster and I’m on the DL, so they made this move,” Mazzoni said of his DFA.

The Padres added left-handed reliever Michael Kirkman — who last pitched in the big leagues in 2014 — to the 40-man roster and placed him on the 25-man major league roster.

A number of short stints by Padre starting pitchers of late created a need for additional bullpen help.

“This kind of thing happens,” Mazzoni said. “Over the next 10 days, another team could sign me, I could be traded ... If nothing happens, I could be assigned back to the minor leagues.”

Mazzoni is currently in Arizona, receiving treatment at the Padres’ spring training facility.

He does not know if his shoulder ailment will require surgery.

“It’s too early to tell,” he said. “They’re still running tests. I just have to be patient, let this run its course and get back on the mound when I’m able.”

Mazzoni said he likes the Padres organization and would love to stay there.

“But I’m open to anything,” he said. “What happens, happens. We’ll see where it goes.”

Mazzoni was a second-round draft choice by the New York Mets in 2011. He pitched in college at North Carolina State.