Padres Minor League Report: Draft Picks Alex Conover, Nu'u Contrades Homer For First Pro Hits

After shoulder fatigue in his return from Tommy John surgery cost him the last two months, Padres prospect Michael Salina threw an inning in the last ACL game of the season tonight. He'll build up in bridge league action to see if he can get to Elsinore next month.

Padres Minor-League Transactions

• LHP Fernando Sanchez assigned to San Antonio Missions from El Paso Chihuahuas.
• El Paso Chihuahuas released 2B Nate Mondou.
• RHP Daichi Moriki assigned to ACL Padres from Lake Elsinore Storm.
• RHP Florangel Vasquez assigned to Lake Elsinore Storm from ACL Padres.

Chihuahuas Stumble After Big Fourth Inning By Aces

A five-run fourth inning proved too much to overcome for the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas in a 6-4 loss to the host Reno Aces.

Nick Pratto hit a two-run homer and Nick Solak had two of the Chihuahuas' eight hits. Chihuahuas right-hander starter Andrew Thurman allowed five runs (four earned) in four innings, then right-hander Ethan Routzahn gave up a run in the fifth inning. But after that, right-handers Daison Acosta, Hunter Stratton and Alek Jacob combined to yield just one hit in three scoreless innings.

After the Aces scored five runs in the fourth to take a 5-1 lead, the Chihuahuas came back with three in the top of the fifth on Pratto's two-run homer, his ninth of the season and fourth with El Paso, and Carlos Rodriguez had an RBI triple. The Aces got one of those back in the bottom of the fifth to go up 6-4.

Return Doesn't Go Well For Missions' Fernando Sanchez

Left-handed starter Fernando Sanchez made his return to the mound after being drilled in the head by a line drive two months ago, but it was not a Cinderella story as he gave up six runs in less than two innings in the host Double-A San Antonio Missions' 9-2 loss to the Springfield Cardinals.

Sanchez was injured in the June 6 game vs. Sugar Land. While he did walk off the mound, he did sustain a fracture but no other significant injuries. In his return, he allowed six runs (five earned) on four hits, including a homer, and three walks in 1⅔ innings, striking out three.

Offensively, the Missions mustered just four hits, but two of those came from Jack Costello, who was making his Double-A debut after a promotion from High-A Fort Wayne. The Missions scored their two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Jake Cunningham singled, Braedon Karpathios (Padres Mission's No. 12 prospect) walked and Ryan Jackson loaded the bases with a sharp single to right. Costello then hit into a run-scoring 6-4-3 double play that brought in Cunningham and Karpathios scored on a passed ball.

Carson Montgomery, Carlos Medina Toss 1-Hitter For TinCaps

Right-handers Carson Montgomery and Carlos Medina combined on a one-hitter, striking out nine, as the host High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps stopped the West Michigan Whitecaps 3-0. It was the 19th one-hitter in franchise history and the TinCaps' fifth shutout of the season.

Lamar King Jr., Padres Mission's No. 7 prospect, hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning and Kerrington Cross a solo shot in the seventh. It was the fourth homer this year for King and the 15th for Cross. Ryan Wideman, Padres Mission's No. 4 prospect, had a single and stole his minors-leading 61st base of the season.

Montgomery and Medina were the standouts on this night, though. Montgomery had allowed 24 runs (22 earned) in his five previous starts over 19⅓ innings. But he was more like his early-season form, when he gave up just five runs (four earned) in 27 innings to begin the year. Montgomery went a career-high six innings and allowed just a one-out double in the second inning with two walks and three strikeouts.

Medina, in his third appearance with the TinCaps after being promoted from Low-A Lake Elsinore, pitched three perfect innings with six strikeouts in earning his first professional save in 20 career appearances, only seven of which have come in relief in his debut season.

Storm's Alex Conover, Nu'u Contrades Homer For First Pro Hits

Alex Conover and Nu'u Contrades each hit their first professional home runs for their first pro hits in their second games and Conover brought in the winning run when he was hit by a pitch in the seventh inning of the host Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm's 5-2 victory over the Ontario Tower Buzzers. Augie Lopez, a catcher who was the Padres' 10th-round draft choice, made his pro debut by playing first base and also notching his first pro hit.

Storm right-handed starter Lan-Hong Su had another nice outing, allowing an unearned run in three innings on five hits and a walk with four punchouts. Right-hander Michael Salina, a 2025 fourth-round draft choice, made his Storm debut with a scoreless fourth inning, allowing a hit and striking out one. His pro debut was delayed until May due to Tommy John surgery, then missed another two months with a shoulder issue. Right-hander Yoesmerli Beltre had a scoreless fifth, then right-hander Zack Qin allowed a run in three innings, striking out five and walking two. Right-hander Jordan Valenzuela pitched a perfect ninth for his first Low-A save and fourth this season.

Despite being outhit 9-5 and committing three errors, the Storm made the most of the hits they did get thanks to drawing seven walks. Contrades, the sixth-round draft choice batting leadoff, hit a 2-2 pitch out to left-center off Tower Buzzers right-handed starter Luis Gamez with one out in the third inning. Conover, a left-handed hitter taken in the fourth round and batting second in the lineup, also hit an opposite-field solo homer to left off left-hander Ian May with one out in the sixth on a 2-1 pitch to tie the game 2-2. The Storm loaded the bases in the seventh on two walks and a hit by pitch when Conver was also hit by a pitch to force in the go-ahead run with two outs. In the eighth, two more walks set up Lopez's clinching double to right that brought in two more runs.

Padres Mission's Top 20 Prospect Performance

1. Ethan Salas: DNP
2. Kash Mayfield: Traded
3. Miguel Mendez: Traded
4. Ryan Wideman: 1-for-4, SB, 2 K
5. Kruz Schoolcraft: DNP
6. Jorge Quintana: 1-for-3, 2B, BB, K
7. Ty Harvey: 1-for-4, K
8. Kale Fountain: Injured, out for season
9. Tucker Musgrove: DNP
10. Coleman Borthwick: In Arizona
11. Lamar King Jr.: 1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, K
12. Braedon Karpathios: 0-for-3, BB, R, 2 K
13. Jagger Haynes: DNP
14. Alex McCoy: 0-for-4, 2 K
15. Truitt Madonna: DNP
16. Jesus Castro: DNP
17. Garrett Hawkins: DNP
18. Elliot Lascelles: In Arizona
19. Winyer Chourio: DNP
20. Rosman Verdugo: 1-for-3, R

Interested in learning more about the San Diego Padres' top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!