Padres Prospect Hot Sheet: Jagger Haynes Shows Promise In Two-Start Week

Let's check in on the San Diego Padres prospects who made a mark in the last week:

Jagger Haynes, LHP, Double-A San Antonio Missions

Season stats: 1-2, 4.65 ERA, 10 games (all starts), 50⅓ IP, 47 H, 27 R, 26 ER, 5 HR, 21 BB, 49 K, .253 opponent average

Don't read too much into the 23-year-old left-hander returning to Double-A after spending all of 2025 in San Antonio. He had a slow start to his career after being the Padres' final pick of the abbreviated 2020 draft, selected in the fifth round out of a tiny North Carolina High School. His first season back on the mound came in 2023 following Tommy John surgery.

But this is a big season for Haynes, Padres Mission's No. 11 prospect who was left unprotected and went unselected in the Rule 5 draft last offseason. Back with the Missions, which provides a better atmosphere than the conditions at Triple-A El Paso and the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, Haynes had the best start of his season Tuesday against Corpus Christi. In going six innings, he didn't allow a run on just four hits with seven strikeouts, although he did have three walks in the 3-2 victory. It was his sixth straight start of at least five innings.

Surprisingly, Haynes also started Sunday. In the minors, most teams have starters go once a week. In his start Sunday, Haynes went 4⅔ innings and allowed four runs on five hits with three walks and six strikeouts in a 6-5 loss to Corpus Christi.

Walks have been a problem in previous seasons for Haynes, with 11%, 13.9% and 14% walk rates the previous three seasons, respectively. But he has trimmed that down to 9.3% this year in 45⅔ innings (although he has hit 10 batters), certainly a good sign as he seeks to be put on the 40-man roster this offseason. If not, he could walk as a six-year minor-league free agent. That also makes him a candidate to be included in a trade this year.

None of his stats jump off the page, and his opponent batting average of .253 is 20-to-30 points higher than it has been in the previous seasons, although his WHIP is just under the best it has been at 1.35 (compared to 1.34 in his first year). Using his slider and changeup, he had whiff rates of 48% and 43% last year, really good marks. Another possibility for Haynes would be to convert into a multi-inning reliever, where his stuff might play up a bit.

Miguel Mendez, RHP, Double-A San Antonio Missions

Season stats: 1-1, 4.76 ERA, 8 games (all starts), 22⅔ IP, 23 H, 12 R, 12 ER, 11 BB, 28 K, .256 opponent average

The 23-year-old right-handed starter—he turns 24 in early July—has flown under the radar this season, perhaps by design. Mendez, Padres Mission's No. 3 prospect, has made eight starts, but only one has gone beyond four innings. After a couple bumpy outings, Mendez bounced back Saturday in a tremendous staff performance during a 1-0 victory over Corpus Christi. He went three innings, punching out four and allowing two hits in four shutout innings. He walked one and hit another.

It was the second time in four starts and third of the season in which Mendez didn't allow a run. His last four starts came after missing just over two weeks on the seven-day injured list with an undisclosed injury. In those four games, he pitched a combined eight innings, including getting just two outs and surrendering three runs April 19 vs. Frisco.

Mendez made a quick ascent last season through the Padres' system. He started with three games at Low-A Lake Elsinore, then settled in for 12 starts at High-A Fort Wayne, then finished with six more starts with the Missions. Those half-dozen outings were a bit bumpy with an 8.06 ERA and 17 walks in 22⅓ innings, but the Padres saw enough promise in him for that aggressive movement. He dominated at Fort Wayne with a 1.32 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 61⅓ innings.

He has worked on the walks this year, putting up a 10.6% walk rate, while still getting the punchouts (26.9% strikeout rate). As we get into June, unless there is a health reason, getting the innings and the pitch count up would be nice to see from one of the system's top arms.

Carlos Rodriguez, OF, Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas

Season stats: .292/.364/.385, 42 games, 22 R, 8 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 29 RBI, 20 BB, 24 K, 2 SB, 0 CS

Surprisingly, the Padres are the third franchise the 25-year-old outfielder has been with so far in his career. Originally signed by the Milwaukee Brewers, Rodriguez became a free agent after six years in that organization, then joining Atlanta before the 2025 season. Once again a free agent last offseason, Rodriguez signed with the Padres. This is his first full season at Triple-A, although he spent most of last year at this level. The opportunity with the Friars appears to be paying off. Rodriguez is coming off a week in which he went 8-for-21 with his first homer of the season and eight of his 29 RBIs.

Rodriguez is more of a contact-oriented hitter as he entered this season with 22 homers over seven seasons. Speed is also part of his game, although not a huge aspect. He peaked at 20 steals (in 30 chances) last year and has only two thus far this year. His .292 batting average is the highest mark he has put up in full-season ball, just a tick above the .291 he had in 2021 at Double-A with the Brewers.

Rodriguez's homer came Saturday and was a two-run shot in a 13-7 win over Albuquerque. It was his first since going deep in back-to-back games last year Aug. 19-20. He has now hit in nine straight games (13-for-34, .382), a streak kept going with Sunday's triple, his second of the year. Rodriguez doesn't profile as much more than a backup outfielder at the moment, though this current hot streak certainly doesn't hurt his case.

Jamie Hitt, LHP, High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps

Season stats: 1-1, 4.93, 9 games (8 starts), 38⅓ IP, 41 H, 27 R, 21 ER, 17 BB, 37 K, .265 opponent average

An eighth-round draft choice last year out of Oklahoma, the left-handed starter has already seen himself promoted once this season. After making his pro debut in Low-A Lake Elsinore's season-opening series out of the bullpen, Hitt was bumped up to the TinCaps the next week and been part of the starting rotation since. His season, as you might expect during the early stages after turning pro, has been a little up-and-down, but Hitt has been pretty reliable. He showed that side of himself Sunday by going a season-high 6⅔ innings, giving up three runs on seven hits with four walks and fanning three in a 7-5 loss to South Bend.

Hitt turned in his second quality start and the only two by the TinCaps' rotation (the other was May 10 vs. Beloit). He also threw 96 pitches, the most by a TinCap this year. He has two blowup outings that have pushed his ERA up to 4.93 (that was a combined 13 runs in 7⅓ innings). But he has rebounded each time, first with five shutout innings, then with two earned runs in five innings. The five shutout innings (two hits, eight strikeouts) vs. Wisconsin earned him Midwest League Pitcher of the Week honors.

Hitt has also proven to be an innings-eater, going at least five innings in four straight starts and five of six. However, walks have been slightly troublesome; he has a 9.7% walk rate against a middling 21% strikeout rate.

Yoiber Ocopio, C, Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm

Season stats: .258/.342/.470, 22 games, 12 R, 5 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 13 RBI, 7 BB, 19 K, 1 SB, 0 CS

After beginning the season as the Storm's No. 3 catcher when he joined the team two weeks into the season, Ocopio is earning more playing time with his production and thanks to an injury. The 21-year-old from Venezuela had a really nice week against the Inland Empire 66ers, going 8-for-15 with four RBIs in four games. That included three doubles and three runs scored for the Storm (30-21), who lead the California League's South Division by two games in the first-half race.

In addition to having hits in all four of the games he played last week, he has hit in seven of his last eight, which includes a pair of homers the previous week. Ocopio has also played a little first base as well as rotating at designated hitter. But he has been very good behind the plate, having cut down seven of 21 would-be basestealers. His time behind the plate has increased with the injury to Ty Harvey, Padres Mission's No. 7 prospect who broke his left hand two weekends ago when a bat hit his catching hand. Harvey had just recently returned after spending three weeks sidelined with a quad injury.

Ocopio simply adds to some really nice catching depth in the system. He spent some time with the Storm in 2025, appearing in 14 games with a .214/.320/.286 slash line. He figures to continue getting time behind the plate along with Truitt Madonna, Padres Mission's No. 13 prospect, and Alcides Hernandez.

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!