San Diego Padres Minor-League Pitchers of the Month: June 2026

[Steve Drumwright]

It was a good month for a few San Diego Padres minor-league pitchers. The fact that four of the five names listed below come from either the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas or the Double-A San Antonio Missions is also encouraging, as some of the places those teams play can be very challenging for pitchers.

Ranking Padres' Best Minor-League Pitchers In June

Honorable mention: Josh Mallitz, RHP, Double-A San Antonio Missions

June stats: 1-0, 1.35 ERA, 8 games (all relief), 2 saves (2 chances), 13⅓ IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 21 K, .111 opponent average

The right-handed reliever's season started late due to injury, then he gave up 11 runs in his two April appearances. But since then, Mallitz has been impeccable, giving up just four runs in 24⅓ innings. He was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Mississippi in 2024 and continues to be a big contributor in his first full season at Double-A after getting into four games for the Missions last year. He struck out 21 in 13⅓ innings in June after having 10 in his previous 14 innings.

Honorable mention: Omar Cruz, LHP, Double-A San Antonio Missions

June stats: 1-1, 2.31 ERA, 6 games (1 start), 1 save (1 chance), 11⅔ IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 22 K, .171 opponent average

With a start and a save during the month, you can tell how valuable the left-hander has been for the Missions this season. And that is part of Cruz's story this year: He started the season at Triple-A El Paso, but struggled in the Pacific Coast League environments to an 18.00 ERA in four innings over six games. That had the Padres move him down to Double-A San Antonio. Since that move in late April, all Cruz has done is put up a 3.45 ERA in 15 games and 28⅔ innings, with 45 strikeouts and 10 walks. He made his MLB debut with the Padres last year, appearing in two games, so getting back on track at San Antonio is nice to see.

No. 3: Winyer Chourio, RHP, High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps

June stats: 2-0, 2.86 ERA, 4 games (all starts), 22 IP, 18 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 9 BB, 22 K, .228 opponent average

The 22-year-old, who just moved into Padres Mission's Top 20 prospects list at No. 20, has had a breakthrough year in his first time in full-season ball. Some subtle changes have increased the 2024 international signee's velocity and improved the quality of his pitches. His performance in 12 games at Low-A Lake Elsinore (3.31 ERA, 74 strikeouts, 54⅓ innings) earned him a promotion to High-A Fort Wayne.

He made his High-A debut last week with a familiar line from his Storm days: five innings, one run, five hits, three walks, four strikeouts. That came after his final two starts at Lake Elsinore went six innings, and included his second nine-strikeout performance of the season. In addition, he had a 10-strikeout game in May. Chourio does need to reduce his walks, as six of his 13 games this season have seen the right-hander issue three or more free passes. His walk rate this season is 11.9%, which is somewhat offset by his 33.1% strikeout rate, which is significantly up from 20.8% last year. His walk rate a year ago was at 10.2%. Chourio has also already matched his innings total from last year (56⅔), which will make his second half fascinating to watch.

No. 2: Andrew Moore, RHP, Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas

June stats: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 8 games (all relief), 1 save (1 chance), 10⅓ IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 12 BB, 23 K, .063 opponent average

Probably the most consistent reliever in the entire Padres system, the right-hander went the entire month without allowing a run, extending his scoreless streak to 11 appearances and 14 innings. That included a promotion from Double-A San Antonio to Triple-A El Paso for his final two outings covering 3⅔ in which he struck out eight. He also continued to excel at striking out opponents. In six of the seven games where he went at least one inning, he struck out two or more, leading to a 44.5% strikeout rate this season. However, he did walk 12 in June, the most of any month, and has a 24.4% walk rate. Five of those walks came in his first two Triple-A appearances.

Moore also keeps contact at a minimum. He gave up just two hits last month, one in his first game and one in his last, for a .063 opponent average, dropping his season number to .112. Of the 10 hits he has allowed this year, only one has been for extra bases. In his 22 games this year between the two levels, he has a 1.61 ERA in 28 innings.

No. 1: Jhony Brito, RHP, Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas

June stats: 2-1, 1.14, 5 games (all starts), 23⅔ IP, 15 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 9 BB, 21 K, .181 opponent average

While no longer a prospect at age 28, Brito is coming off missing more than a year following internal brace and right flexor tendon surgery and still has his rookie status intact for when he returns to the MLB level. Brito came off the 60-day injured list after his first start of the month at Double-A San Antonio, then went to Triple-A El Paso for his first non-rehab games of the season. Even in the difficult PCL environment, Brito has excelled.

In those four starts alone, Brito allowed two earned runs in 18⅔ innings (he did give up three unearned runs in his last game). He has also punched out 19 and walked nine. Brito's walk rate has been up at Triple-A at 11.8%, but is at a more reasonable 8.7% for the season. Aside from the rehabbing German Marquez and Matt Waldron, Brito would seemingly be next in line as a starting option at the major-league level.

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