Padres Minor League Report: Jesus Castro Notches 12 Punchouts In Storm Triumph

San Diego Padres affiliates went 1-3 Wednesday as the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas lost 4-2 to Round Rock, the Double-A San Antonio Mission were blanked by Frisco 4-0, the High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps fell again 14-2 to Dayton and the Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm rolled 6-1.

Padres Minor-League Transactions

• San Diego Padres signed 1B Nick Pratto to a minor-league contract and assigned him to El Paso Chihuahuas.
• El Paso Chihuahuas transferred 2B Victor Duarte to the Development List.

Carlos Rodriguez's Streak Reaches 16, But Chihuahuas Fall Late

Right-hander Jhony Brito turned in another nice start in his first Triple-A start since coming off the injured list and Carlos Rodriguez extended his hitting streak to a career-high 16 games, but the El Paso Chihuahuas gave up a pair of seventh-inning runs to fall 4-2 to the Round Rock Express.

Rodriguez went 2-for-5, keeping his streak going with a two-out single in the fourth inning and a leadoff single in the seventh. He has reached base in 20 straight games. His hitting streak is the longest by the Chihuahuas this season and the second-longest active streak in the Pacific Coast League.

Brito had six rehab outings while on the Padres' 60-day injured list following an internal brace surgery and flexor tendon repair in April 2025, but was very effective in his four starts for Double-A San Antonio, with a 1.96 ERA. Against the Express, Brito went four innings and allowed just one run on three hits, but he also walked three while striking out four. The only run he gave up was a leadoff homer to Jarred Kelenic in the third inning.

The Chihuahuas took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second on Blake Hunt's RBI single to left to score Mason McCoy, who had singled and went to second on Clay Dungan's single. Round Rock tied it in the bottom of the third, then the Chihuahuas reclaimed the lead on Rodriguez's run-scoring single to bring in Hunt, who was hit by a pitch and went to second on Nate Mondou's single. It was tied again at 2-2 when the Express scored once in the fifth, then they scored twice in the seventh.

Missions Can Only Produce 3 Hits In Shutout Loss

Ethan Salas went 2-for-3, but the rest of the host Double-A San Antonio Missions had just one as the Frisco RoughRiders prevailed 5-0.

Salas had singles leading off the bottom of the first and with one out in the sixth. Ryan Jackson followed Salas first-inning single with a single of his own. But the RoughRiders retired 15 straight before Salas got the third and final hit for the Missions.

Chihuahuas right-handed starter Eric Yost gave up three runs in 3⅓ innings on five hits and two walks while fanning three.

TinCaps Pounded By Dragons, Drop 7th Straight

The High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps gave up a seven-run fifth inning, the seven more runs over the next three innings in suffering a 14-2 loss at the hands of the host Dayton Dragons.

The TinCaps had a mere five hits, only one a double. Justin DeCriscio had an RBI single in the third inning and Oswaldo a run-scoring groundout.

TinCaps right-handed starter Maikel Miralles gave up three runs in 4-plus innings on five hits and two walks with a pair of strikeouts. Left-hander Igo Gil and right-hander Isaiah Lowe each followed with an inning apiece and gave up three runs each. Right-hander Luis German then gave up four runs in 1⅓ innings.

Jesus Castro Punches Out Career-High 12 As Storm Prevail

Right-hander Jesus Castro struck out a career-high 12 in 4⅔ innings and Kerrington Cross had a two-run double in a four-run seventh inning as the host Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm notched a 6-1 victory over the Ontario Tower Buzzers.

Ryan Wideman reached base three times with a pair of hits and a walk, scored a run and also stole two bases to boost his minors-leading total to 39. Luke Cantwell also had a pair of hits and a walk, while Cross walked twice in addition to the double, scoring twice.

Castro bettered his previous career high of nine strikeouts that he accomplished in 5⅔ innings May 13 vs. Ranco Cucamonga. It also came a night after Winyer Chourio struck out nine over six innings. Castro didn't allow a run, giving up three hits and two walks while throwing 96 pitches. Castro's ERA dropped to 2.72. He now has 53 strikeouts this season, meaning just over of the total he accrued in 10 starts came in this game.

Cantwell, who came off the injured list Sunday, doubled home a run in the first inning and is now 7-for-12 with five RBIs. Jorge Quintana made it 2-0 with a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning. In the seventh, Quintana drew a leadoff walk and went to second on a one-out wild pitch. Conner Westenburg reached after striking out due to a wild pitch, moving Quintana to third. Wideman walked to load the bases, then another wild pitch to plate Quintana. Wideman stole second, then Cross doubled home a pair for a 5-0 lead. Jose Verdugo followed with a sac fly to cap the four-run inning and put the Storm up 6-1.

Right-hander Nick Falter went 2⅓ scoreless innings and right-hander Vicarte Domingo allowed a ninth-inning run in his two innings.

Padres Mission Top 20 Prospect Performance

1. Ethan Salas: 2-for-3
2. Kash Mayfield: DNP
3. Miguel Mendez: DNP
4. Kruz Schoolcraft: DNP
5. Ryan Wideman: 2-for-4, R, BB, K, 2 SB
6. Jorge Quintana: 0-for-1, R, RBI, 2 BB, K
7. Ty Harvey: On injured list
8. Kale Fountain: Injured, out for season
9. Braedon Karpathios: DNP
10. Lamar King Jr.: 0-for-3, BB, K
11. Jagger Haynes: DNP
12. Alex McCoy: 0-for-4
13. Truitt Madonna: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
14. Tucker Musgrove: DNP
15. Garrett Hawkins: DNP
16. Michael Salina: DNP
17. Eric Yost: 3⅓ IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
18. Rosman Verdugo: 0-for-4, K
19. Bryan Balzer: DNP
20. Deivid Coronil: DNP

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