Brock Beauchamp

El Paso’s Clay Dungan and San Antonio’s Braden Nett starred, but Padres affiliates combined to go 1–2 on the day, with Fort Wayne rained out. Carlos Rodriguez and Zach Evans continued producing for Lake Elsinore, though the Storm struggled defensively. Braden Nett struck out 10 in a scoreless start, while Austin Krob turned in another solid relief outing. Rough Outing from Starters Sinks Chihuahuas in 8–4 Loss Box Score El Paso’s pitching unravelled early, as starter Omar Cruz allowed six runs (five earned) in just two innings during Wednesday’s 8–4 loss to Reno. Cruz was tagged for two home runs, including a 3rd-inning solo shot by Trey Mancini, as part of a 6-run outburst by the Aces before the third inning ended. Austin Krob was steady in relief, working two innings without an earned run, his second straight outing allowing no runs after surrendering three runs on June 10th. Bryan Hoeing followed with two clean frames, but Jason Blanchard allowed two crucial runs in the 9th, ballooning his ERA to 7.16. Clay Dungan paced El Paso’s offense with a 3-for-5 night, including a 5th-inning two-run homer, his second in his last three games. Mason McCoy added two hits and an RBI, continuing a strong June in which he’s hitting .340 in the month. Despite four extra-base hits, the Chihuahuas went just 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position. Luis Campusano struck out three times, and his OPS remains above 1.000. El Paso is 6-4 in its last 10 games. Pitching Dominates as Missions Walk Off in 1–0 Win Box Score A stellar pitching performance carried the San Antonio Missions to a 1–0 walk-off win over Frisco, culminating in a ninth-inning RBI infield single from catcher Brandon Valenzuela. The switch-hitter, one of the Padres’ top catching prospects, now has 30 RBIs on the season and is batting .271. Braden Nett delivered 5 2/3 shutout innings, allowing six hits while striking out ten. It was his second consecutive appearance with 7+ strikeouts, continuing a surge that has dropped his ERA to 3.58 over 55 1/3 innings. Stephen Jones and Ryan Och bridged the middle innings with three more strikeouts over 2 1/3 scoreless frames. Tyson Neighbors earned the win with a high-octane ninth inning, striking out three. Neighbors has nine strikeouts over his last 6 1/3 innings pitched. Offensively, San Antonio managed just three hits, including a double from Moisés Gómez and another from Anthony Vilar, who has reached base in last eight games. The Missions have now won six of their last seven games. Storm Drop Finale Despite Rodriguez, Evans Efforts in 5–3 Loss Box Score Lake Elsinore struck out 14 times and stranded multiple rallies in a 5–3 loss to Rancho Cucamonga, capping a frustrating morning for the Storm offense. Carlos Rodriguez doubled and walked, then scored in a two-run 6th that briefly narrowed the deficit. Zach Evans plated both 6th-inning runs with a two-out single, and is now hitting .298 on the season. Outfielder Ryan Wilson added his 11th double of the season but struck out twice. Starter Kash Mayfield lasted three innings, allowing just one run (unearned), but struck out eight batters. Vicarte Domingo followed with a tough outing, allowing three earned runs on four hits and two walks. Bernard Jose was the only Storm pitcher not to allow a run. Lake Elsinore went just 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position and committed two errors. Despite solid contributions from several ranked prospects, the Storm have now lost five in a row, with offensive consistency and defense proving to be ongoing issues. View full article

Three of four affiliates showed offensive punch late, with walk-offs from El Paso and big hits from Cedeño, Long, and Wilson. However, bullpen inconsistencies and defensive lapses—especially in Lake Elsinore—remain recurring issues. Strong nights from De Vries, Gómez, and King Jr. underscored continued progress for key prospects. Durán’s Walk-Off Homer Lifts El Paso in Stunning 9th-Inning Rally Box Score Rodolfo Durán delivered a three-run walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth to cap El Paso’s 4–3 comeback over Reno, erasing a late deficit and bailing out a bullpen that had faltered in the top half of the inning. The shot, Durán’s third of the season, came off southpaw Andrew Saalfrank and marked his second extra-base hit in three games. Starter Kyle Hart was sharp, allowing one earned run over five innings with six strikeouts. This is a stark reversal of his previous June starts, when he gave up eight earned runs in 9 1/3 innings. El Paso’s bullpen, however, nearly let the game slip. Raul Brito and Alek Jacob each allowed an earned run, including a solo homer by Trey Mancini and a double from the same in the eighth. A.J. Vukovich’s ninth-inning homer off Jose Espada briefly gave Reno a 3–1 edge, but El Paso’s bats came alive late. Forrest Wall collected two hits, and Tim Locastro drove in a run in the fourth. Wall also recorded an outfield assist to cut down a runner at second. Despite only having five opportunities with runners in scoring position, El Paso’s late power saved the day. Cedeño and Missions Rally Late to Down Frisco 4–2 Box Score The Missions overcame a 2–0 deficit with a four-run sixth inning, defeating Frisco 4–2 behind clutch hitting from Nerwilian Cedeño and a bullpen performance that combined for five innings of two-run ball with eight strikeouts. Cedeño, who hit his third double of the past week, drove in the first San Antonio run and later came around to score. Moisés Gómez added a sharp double to right, his 14th of the year. Starter Luis Patiño pitched four shutout innings with six strikeouts. He’s now given up just one earned run over his last 15 2/3 innings and appears to be regaining the swing-and-miss arsenal that once made him a prized prospect. Enmanuel Pinales earned the win, working around two walks and two hits over two frames. Jake Higginbotham and Ethan Routzahn slammed the door, retiring nine of ten batters faced and striking out four. Brandon Valenzuela contributed with a run-scoring groundout and a stolen base. TinCaps Drop Slugfest Despite Long’s Late Homer Box Score Despite Ethan Long’s solo blast in the ninth and an eighth-inning two-run rally, the Fort Wayne TinCaps fell 6–4 to Dayton on Monday, undone by a pair of fourth-inning home runs and an early 6–1 deficit. Brandon Butterworth opened the game with a solo homer, his fourth of the year. Leo De Vries reached base twice and flashed defensive consistency at shortstop, while third baseman Rosman Verdugo scored a run. Starter Ian Koenig allowed six runs on seven hits over 4 2/3 innings, including homers to John Michael Faile, Connor Burns, and Leo Balcazar. The outing ballooned his ERA to 6.65, and he has now allowed at least four runs in four of his last five appearances. Reliever Fernando Sanchez was effective in 3 1/3 innings of hitless work, striking out two and walking just one. Jack Costello and Brendan Durfee each collected RBIs in the eighth to pull Fort Wayne close, but the TinCaps went 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left nine on base in the game. Storm Outslugged in Rancho Cucamonga, Fall 9–1 Box Score The Lake Elsinore Storm were outpaced 9–1 by Rancho Cucamonga as defensive miscues and extra-base hits by the Quakes proved too much to overcome. Kannon Kemp allowed three runs in the third, including a two-run homer to Samuel Munoz. Ryan Wilson was a bright spot, doubling twice and walking twice, reaching base in all four of his plate appearances. Over his last five games, the 20-year-old has lifted his OBP nearly 50 points and now carries a .713 OPS on the season. Cobb Hightower added an RBI single to plate Wilson in the fifth, but Lake Elsinore went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and grounded into two double plays. Lamar King Jr. drew a walk and threw out a runner, bringing his season caught-stealing mark to seven on the season. The bullpen struggled as well. Igor Gil and Ruben Salinas combined to allow five earned runs in the final three innings, ballooning Salinas’s ERA to 9.53. Lake Elsinore has now dropped four in a row. View full article

San Antonio, Fort Wayne, and Lake Elsinore all showcased late-inning rallies, with big hits from Valenzuela, Roberts, and Tears. Bullpen volatility remains a theme, but emerging bats like De Vries and Gómez impressed. Defensive lapses hurt Lake Elsinore, while Fort Wayne flashed improved pitching depth behind Gutierrez and Hawkins. Early Blasts and Steady Arms Lead El Paso Past Round Rock, 7–1 Box Score El Paso’s offense erupted early and the pitching staff held firm in a 7–1 win over Round Rock on Saturday night at Dell Diamond. The Chihuahuas totaled nine hits—including three doubles and a home run—to back 5 2/3 strong innings from Matt Waldron. Clay Dungan opened the scoring with a solo homer in the first, his fourth of the season, and Mason McCoy followed with one of his two doubles on the night. McCoy went 3-for-5 with two doubles, improving his OPS to .912 on the year. Yonathan Perlaza and Nate Mondou kept the inning alive with single, and a passed ball later allowed Perlaza to score the third run of the inning. Waldron (3–1) allowed just one run on three hits and struck out five. The right-hander now sports a 3.66 ERA across four appearances in El Paso. He was supported by four relievers—Eduarniel Núñez, Bryan Hoeing, Harold Chirino, and Ron Marinaccio—who combined for 3 1/3 scoreless innings with two strikeouts and no walks. Jason Heyward added his first extra-base hit in Triple-A with a double in the ninth. Nate Mondou finished 3-for-4 with three RBI and has a .727 OPS on the season. The Chihuahuas went just 2-for-15 with runners in scoring position but capitalized on five walks. Valenzuela, Murphy Fuel Missions’ 8–5 Win in Back-and-Forth Battle Box Score The San Antonio Missions edged Amarillo 8–5 behind a late offensive surge and a timely homer from Brandon Valenzuela. Valenzuela, serving as the designated hitter, launched a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning—his ninth of the season—giving the Missions a 5-4 lead and lifting San Antonio to its fourth win in five games. Outfielder Kai Murphy delivered the key blow in the ninth, driving in three runs with a single to left that was misplayed, allowing the Missions to break the game open. Murphy finished 2-for-3 with two walks, two runs scored, and now has six hits in his last 16 at-bats. Moisés Gómez added a pair of doubles and a single to the effort. Lefty Jagger Haynes allowed three earned runs over 4 1/3 innings with four strikeouts but a pair of walks as well. Tyson Neighbors surrendered a game-tying homer but struck out two in two innings. Manuel Castro earned the win with two perfect frames and five strikeouts. Roberts’ Plate Discipline and Speed Spark TinCaps’ 5–4 Win Box Score The Fort Wayne TinCaps edged South Bend 5–4 in a tightly contested matchup, thanks to a combination of patience at the plate, aggressive baserunning, and clutch situational hitting. Outfielder Kai Roberts set the tone with two RBIs and his 12th stolen base of the year, bringing home the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly in the seventh. Brandon Butterworth added a hit and two RBI. Leo De Vries continued impressing, reaching base four times with a hit and three walks. Luis Gutierrez delivered another effective start, working six innings and allowing just two earned runs on five hits while striking out three. The 19-year-old lefty fared well in his first High-A start. Ruben Galindo escaped Sean Barnett's jam in the seventh with two strikeouts and earned his first win of the season. Garrett Hawkins sealed the victory with a dominant ninth inning, striking out two on just 13 pitches. Storm Let Lead Slip in Extras as Defensive Woes Doom Elsinore in 10–6 Loss Box Score Lake Elsinore unraveled in extra innings, allowing four runs to score as they fell 10–6 to Visalia. Despite erasing a four-run deficit and holding a late lead, the Storm couldn’t contain the Rawhide in the final frame. Kavares Tears led the offense with a three-run homer and a double, raising his OPS to .753. He’s now slugging .650 over his last five games and remains one of the system’s most productive bats, posting a .983 OPS over that span. Ryan Jackson continued his steady production, adding a two-RBI single in the fifth to give Elsinore a 6–5 lead. Starter Will Varmette struggled with control, issuing a walk and allowing three unearned runs, four runs total, over 2 2/3 innings. Johan Moreno stabilized things but Bernard Jose struggled, allowing four runs and two walks over two innings. Chase Valentine reached base twice and notched his seventh stolen base, while catcher Lamar King Jr. walked twice and threw out a runner. However, first baseman Victor Figueroa committed two costly errors, and the Storm’s defense as a whole contributed to four unearned runs. Lake Elsinore left 12 runners on base. View full article

El Paso fell 8–2 despite multi-hit games from Mike Brosseau and Trenton Brooks, as Jackson Wolf allowed four runs in 3 1/3 innings. San Antonio edged Amarillo 10–9 in a back-and-forth contest, powered by home runs from Kai Murphy and Ripken Reyes. Lake Elsinore struck out 17 times in a 7–1 loss, with Victor Figueroa collecting four hits and two doubles. Fort Wayne’s game was postponed. Late-Inning Power Pushes Round Rock Past El Paso The El Paso Chihuahuas dropped an 8–2 decision to Round Rock despite a multi-hit effort from outfielder Trenton Brooks, who finished 2-for-4 and raised his season OPS to 1.001. El Paso’s lone offensive spark came in the early innings, including an RBI single from Rodolfo Durán in the 2nd and a Bryce Johnson double and run scored in the 3rd. Padres prospect Jackson Wolf struggled in his start, allowing five earned runs on seven hits across 3 1/3 innings. Wolf has now allowed 13 earned runs over his last 13 1/3 innings pitched, pushing his ERA to 4.68. Left-hander Austin Krob relieved him but gave up a three-run home run to Alan Trejo in the 5th. Krob’s ERA climbed to 5.87 after allowing three earned runs in just 1 2/3 innings. Offensively, El Paso went just 2-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base. The middle of the order failed to capitalize, with Mike Brosseau and Nate Mondou combining to go 2-for-8 with three strikeouts. Despite the loss, Brooks extended his season slash line to .311/.432/.569 over 54 games, further solidifying his offensive consistency at Triple-A. Missions Use Late Offense to Outlast Sod Poodles in 10–9 Win The San Antonio Missions capitalized on a series of clutch extra-base hits and late scoring to secure a 10–9 win over Amarillo on Thursday night at HODGETOWN. San Diego Padres prospect Brandon Valenzuela finished 2-for-4 with a triple, walk, two runs scored, and two RBIs to lead the offense, pushing his OPS to .820 on the season. Anthony Vilar extended his hit streak with a 2-for-4 night, including a double and two RBIs, and now has a .623 OPS in 43 games. Ripken Reyes added his first home run of the year—a go-ahead three-run shot in the sixth that gave San Antonio a 7–6 lead. Reyes also walked and scored three times. Victor Lizarraga lasted just 1 1/3 innings, allowing one run on one hit and a walk. Stephen Jones struggled in relief, surrendering four earned runs in 1 1/3 innings. Ethan Routzahn earned the win with two scoreless innings despite issuing three walks. In total, six Missions hitters recorded extra-base hits, and the team drew 11 walks, a season-high. Despite 10 runners left on base and 13 strikeouts, timely hits—including a key RBI double by Nerwilian Cedeño—proved decisive as the Missions weathered Amarillo’s late pushes. Fort Wayne Was Postponed Storm Stifled in 7–1 Loss as 17 Strikeouts Sink Offense Lake Elsinore’s lineup was overmatched in a 7–1 defeat at the hands of the Visalia Rawhide on Thursday night at The Diamond, striking out 17 times while managing just one extra-base hit. Victor Figueroa continued to lead the Storm offense, going 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles, raising his season OPS to .920. His sixth-inning double plated Zach Evans for Lake Elsinore’s only run, but a base-running miscue—Figueroa was caught stealing third—halted any hopes of a rally. Visalia controlled the game from the fifth inning on, scoring four runs in the frame and tacking on two more in the seventh. Padres prospect Modeifi Marte extended his season average to .297 with a two-hit performance and drove in his 14th RBI. Adrian De Leon added his eighth double and drove in a pair, while Juan Corniel reached base three times and stole his 15th bag of the year. Junior Sanchez earned the win, allowing one unearned run on four hits across 5 2/3 innings. The Visalia bullpen combined for 3 1/3 shutout innings, allowing just three baserunners. The Storm bullpen struggled in relief of Kleiber Olmedo, who allowed three runs across four innings. Ruben Salinas and Xavier Ruiz were tagged for four more in the fifth and sixth, sealing Lake Elsinore’s fate.

San Antonio erupted for 11 runs behind Ripken Reyes and Brandon Valenzuela, while Lake Elsinore got 12 hits in a 5–2 win. Fort Wayne fell 10–1 as South Bend broke it open late. El Paso allowed 12 runs, including a grand slam, despite a three-RBI night from Clay Dungan. Dungan’s Big Double Not Enough in El Paso’s 12–3 Loss Despite Clay Dungan’s bases-clearing double in the fifth, El Paso fell 12–3 to Round Rock in a game that unraveled late. The Chihuahuas managed just six hits and went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position, stranding nine. Dungan finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs and raised his OPS to .749. Tim Locastro doubled and stole his 11th base, while Yonathan Perlaza added his seventh steal of the year. Forrest Wall and Nate Mondou also chipped in with hits, but the offense couldn’t keep pace. Starter Omar Cruz gave up four earned runs over 5.0 innings, allowing three hits and two home runs. He walked two and struck out two, falling to 0–3 with a 3.82 ERA. The bullpen faltered: Miguel Cienfuegos surrendered three runs in the sixth, and Raul Brito allowed five in the eighth, capped by a grand slam from Cody Freeman. Eduarniel Núñez offered a silver lining with 1 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out two and keeping his ERA at 0.00. El Paso’s pitching staff combined to give up 12 runs on 10 hits, four walks, and three homers in the loss. They’ll look to bounce back tomorrow with the series continuing at Dell Diamond. Early Barrage Fuels Missions’ 11–3 Win in Amarillo The San Antonio Missions exploded for six runs in the second inning and never looked back, defeating Amarillo 11–3 behind a 14-hit offensive attack. Ripken Reyes tripled twice and drove in three, while Brandon Valenzuela added his eighth home run of the season and finished with three RBIs. Nerwilian Cedeño, Romeo Sanabria, and Francisco Acuna each collected two hits, with Cedeño and Sanabria combining for three extra-base knocks. Acuna walked twice and stole his 12th base, while Valenzuela pushed his OPS to .803 with a 2-for-5 effort. Devin Ortiz added three hits, including an RBI single. Right-hander Braden Nett (4–3) earned the win, striking out eight over 6.0 innings while allowing three earned runs. Nett held Amarillo to six hits and walked just one. The bullpen trio of José Geraldo, Andrew Moore, and Sam Whiting closed out the final three innings without allowing another run, combining for four strikeouts and no walks. The Missions went 6-for-14 with runners in scoring position and stole three bases. Defensively, the infield turned a key double play, and despite two errors by Devin Ortiz, the team held steady. San Antonio improves to 29–34 and continues its road series Thursday at Hodgetown. TinCaps Overpowered in 10–1 Loss at Home Fort Wayne managed just one run on four hits as they fell 10–1 to South Bend at Parkview Field. Starter Miguel Mendez (2–2) gave up just one earned run over 4.0 innings but was tagged with the loss due to a costly fifth inning by the bullpen. South Bend broke the game open in the fifth with four runs on five baserunners, highlighted by a bases-clearing double from Drew Bowser. Carter Trice homered in the ninth—his eighth of the season—and finished 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a double, lifting his OPS to .899. Miguel Pabon added a three-run homer in the eighth and collected three hits and three RBIs, raising his total to 24 on the year. For the TinCaps, catcher Oswaldo Linares went 1-for-2 with a walk and scored the lone run on a single from Jake Snider in the eighth. The TinCaps’ offense went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left six runners on base. On the mound, relievers Bodi Rascon, Luis Germán, and Jose Sanabria combined to allow nine earned runs over 5.0 innings. The loss drops Mendez’s ERA to 2.42. Fort Wayne will look to rebound in game two of the series Thursday night. Valentine, King Jr. Help Storm Down Visalia 5–2 Chase Valentine delivered his first home run of the season and Lamar King Jr. collected three hits as Lake Elsinore defeated Visalia 5–2 at The Diamond. The Storm totaled 12 hits and stole their eighth consecutive win behind timely hitting and solid pitching. Valentine finished 2-for-4 with a solo homer in the sixth and raised his OPS to .498. King Jr. went 3-for-4 with an RBI single and a stolen base, boosting his season OPS to .779. Zach Evans added a two-run double, his 15th of the year, and Ryan Jackson went 2-for-5 with an RBI. Right-hander Boston Bateman (5–3) earned the win, going 5 2/3 innings while allowing two earned runs on five hits and four walks. He struck out four and lowered his ERA to 3.72. Braian Salazar and Bernard Jose combined for 3 1/3 scoreless innings to close it out, with Jose earning his fourth save. Lake Elsinore went 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position but capitalized on two extra-base hits and clean defense, turning a double play and committing no errors. With the win, the Storm improve to 27–33 on the season and continue their home series Thursday.

San Diego’s minor league affiliates split their four contests Wednesday, with San Antonio and Lake Elsinore notching key wins while El Paso and Fort Wayne came up short. Durán Stays Hot, but Chihuahuas Fall to Round Rock 6–3 The El Paso Chihuahuas dropped a 6–3 decision to the Round Rock Express on Wednesday night despite a strong multi-hit showing from catcher Rodolfo Durán. Durán went 3-for-4 with an RBI single in the ninth, extending a steady run of performance that has seen him collect seven hits over his last four games. El Paso struck first when Clay Dungan—who walked three times and stole two more bases (now 15 on the year)—scored on a Yonathan Perlaza sac fly in the opening frame. But the Express roared back with four runs in the second, capped by a three-run homer from Justin Foscue off starter Kyle Hart. The Chihuahuas trimmed the deficit in the fifth when Bryce Johnson doubled in Forrest Wall, but the bats went quiet again until Durán’s late knock. Despite a clean outing from Alek Jacob (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R), reliever Ron Marinaccio gave up a solo homer and an RBI single in the eighth, sealing the loss. El Paso’s timely hitting remains elusive—they went just 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Cedeno’s Blast, Reyes’ Triple Power Missions Past Amarillo 8–2 The San Antonio Missions used a combination of patience and power to beat Amarillo 8–2 on Wednesday night. The turning point came early, when Nerwilian Cedeno crushed a three-run homer in the second—his second of the season and first in Double A—to erase an early 1–0 deficit. Ripken Reyes broke the game open in the eighth with a bases-loaded triple, giving San Antonio a commanding 7–1 lead. Reyes has posted an OPS of 1.038 in June, flashing both contact ability and power. Luis Patiño, the Missions’ starter, worked 3 2/3 innings of one-run ball, striking out three. San Antonio’s bullpen—highlighted by scoreless appearances from Ryan Och and Enmanuel Pinales—kept Amarillo off balance for most of the night. Francisco Acuna had a multi-hit performance and drove in a run in the eighth, while Brandon Valenzuela added an RBI double in the fifth. TinCaps Fall Behind Early, Offense Silenced in 5–0 Loss The Fort Wayne TinCaps were shut out 5–0 by the South Bend Cubs Wednesday night at Parkview Field, as early command issues and an opportunistic Cubs offense proved costly. Starting pitcher Clark Candiotti didn’t make it past the first inning, issuing three walks and allowing two runs on a pair of sacrifice flies. Fernando Sánchez replaced him in the second but allowed three more runs in the third, including RBI hits from Edgar Alvarez, Ivan Brethowr, and Brian Kalmer. The TinCaps’ offense struggled to convert base runners into runs. Their best chance came in the second when Jack Costello and Kai Roberts singled to put runners on the corners with one out, but Ethan Long grounded into an inning-ending double play. Fort Wayne hit into two twin killings and struck out 12 times on the night. Rosman Verdugo was a bright spot, tripling in the first and drawing two walks. Though he’s batting just .232 on the year, Verdugo has reached base safely in six of his last seven games. The TinCaps have now dropped three straight, managing just four runs during the skid. Storm Hold On for 4–3 Win as Hollow, Jackson Spark Offense Kaden Hollow collected two hits, drove in a run in the sixth, and scored in the first inning rally that gave the Storm an early 3–0 lead. Ryan Jackson contributed with two hits, a walk, and two stolen bases—boosting his season total to 15. After Storm starter Kash Mayfield worked three scoreless innings, Kemp bridged the middle frames and earned the win despite surrendering a game-tying two-run sixth. Domingo came on for the ninth and secured the save after working around a leadoff double. Offensively, the Storm struck early: Hollow scored on a double from Zach Evans, followed by an RBI triple from Lamar King Jr. and an RBI single from Kavares Tears. Though the bats cooled after the first, Lake Elsinore responded when it mattered—Hollow’s RBI single in the sixth proved the difference. Yendry Rojas showed patience at the plate with a walk and a run scored.

El Paso Rallies Late to Extend Win Streak to Four El Paso used a balanced offensive attack and strong bullpen work to overcome an early deficit and beat Round Rock 9–4, stretching their win streak to four. The Chihuahuas tallied 14 hits, with Nate Mondou (2-for-4, 3B, 2B, BB, 2 RBI) continuing a red-hot stretch. Mondou’s barrel control and defensive versatility have made him a valuable asset at Triple-A despite not cracking the Padres’ Top 20 rankings. Yonathan Perlaza added three hits, including his sixth stolen base, and scored twice. He’s now 10-for-25 over his last six games, showcasing the blend of contact and speed that’s kept him in El Paso’s everyday lineup. Trenton Brooks, who’s slugging .600 over his last 10 games, chipped in with two hits and an RBI. The trio keyed a three-run sixth inning and another two-run burst in the eighth, where Mason McCoy drove in a pair on a sharp single. On the mound, Matt Waldron rebounded from a rocky first to throw five solid innings. José Espada (Padres Mission #20), recently promoted, worked a clean ninth to seal the win. Espada flashed his swing-and-miss arsenal with two quick outs and a soft grounder to end it, reinforcing his upside as a future bullpen contributor in San Diego. Missions’ Early Lead Slips Away in 3–1 Loss to Amarillo Despite jumping out to a 1–0 lead in the fifth inning, the San Antonio Missions fell to Amarillo 3–1 after a decisive eighth-inning rally from the Sod Poodles. The Missions’ offense struggled to capitalize on early baserunners, stranding 10 over the first seven frames. Shortstop Francisco Acuña, a spark plug at the top of the order, reached base four times (3-for-4, BB, SB) and has now hit safely in six of his last seven games. Devin Ortiz doubled and walked twice, continuing to show growth as a contact-first bat in the upper minors. Brandon Valenzuela, ranked #17 on Padres Mission’s list, delivered the team’s lone RBI on a fifth-inning groundout. While Valenzuela has cooled since his early-season surge, his plate discipline remains a core strength of his offensive profile. On the mound, Jagger Haynes—Padres Mission’s #20 prospect—worked five scoreless innings, scattering three hits and two walks. The 22-year-old lefty showed improved fastball command and continued to miss barrels, a promising development as he builds workload consistency. The bullpen faltered in the eighth, when a two-run single from Christian Cerda flipped the game. With the loss, San Antonio drops to 2–4 in its last six despite encouraging individual trends from Haynes and Acuña. TinCaps’ Bullpen Falters Late in 11–9 Loss to South Bend In one of their most volatile games of the season, the Fort Wayne TinCaps fell 11–9 to South Bend after surrendering five runs over the final four innings. The TinCaps showed life early, sparked by a three-run third inning that featured a two-run homer by Leo De Vries, the Padres’ No. 1 prospect per both Padres Mission and MLB.com. De Vries added a walk and a single, continuing his surge—now slashing .314/.397/.542 in his last 10 games. Second baseman Brandon Butterworth posted two doubles and was on base three times, while first baseman Jack Costello contributed three hits and a solo homer—his fifth of the season. The middle of the lineup provided key support for De Vries, but strikeouts in late-game opportunities proved costly. On the mound, the bullpen struggled to hold multiple leads. After entering with a 6–5 advantage, Fort Wayne’s relievers surrendered a three-run double to Ariel Armas, and in the ninth, Carter Trice’s go-ahead homer off Eiker Huizi broke the game open. Felix Stevens added a solo shot minutes later. Despite the loss, the TinCaps’ offense—fueled by top prospect talent—continues to trend upward. However, bullpen inconsistencies remain a glaring issue for a team now hovering at .500 on the season. Storm Fall 8–4 to Visalia in Sloppy, Uneven Effort The Lake Elsinore Storm dropped their third game in the past four contests, falling 8–4 to Visalia in a game marred by early pitching struggles and missed opportunities. Starter Will Varmette allowed six runs in just 1.2 innings, unable to contain Visalia’s barrage of extra-base hits, including a three-run double by Ruben Santana in the second. Despite the early hole, the Storm offense showed life. Kaden Hollow led the charge, going 2-for-4 with two doubles and two runs driven in. The 21-year-old outfielder has quietly built a solid June, now slashing .318/.375/.568 over his last eight games. B.Y. Choi chipped in with a run-scoring single in the eighth, part of a 2-for-4 night. Top catching prospect Lamar King Jr. (Padres Mission #8) reached base twice, continuing to showcase his selective approach, though he finished 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Meanwhile, Victor Figueroa’s defensive miscue in the eighth prolonged a critical Visalia rally. On the mound, the bullpen fared better after Varmette’s exit, highlighted by Xavier Ruiz’s solid 1.2 innings before fatigue caught up in the ninth. With the loss, Lake Elsinore falls to 25–31, and while offensive pieces are emerging, the rotation remains a glaring weakness for a team still shaping its identity in the California League.

Part two is up and it's a good read! https://brewerfanatic.com/news-rumors/brewers-minor-league/international-free-agent-pitching-part-two-the-waiting-game-r3357/

Over the next few hours, this change should propagate to all users: We've reduced ad coverage on the forums by about 25% on mobile devices. I've received complaints and also been bothered by how prevalent ads are on phones, specifically on the forums. While there will still occasionally be ad-post-ad situations, it will be rare now and after testing this for several days, I've seen more instances of four posts in a row with no ads between than I've seen ad-post-ad situations. Hopefully this makes browsing and participating on the forums a more pleasant experience on mobile devices!

Signing 16-year-olds and turning them into productive MLB pitchers is, unsurprisingly, a war of attrition. https://brewerfanatic.com/news-rumors/brewers-minor-league/international-free-agent-pitching-part-one-a-league-of-failure-r3285/

This is an excellent, in-depth look at the business of baseball and the impact Scott Boras has on the industry. But is his influence waning in some aspects like drafting and his refusal to sign extensions? The Power of Scott Boras, Team-Friendly Extensions, & The Changing Dynamics Of Baseball Business - Red Sox - Talk Sox TALKSOX.COM Dubbed “The Most Powerful Sports Agent in the World” by Forbes, long-time agent Scott Boras has a history of negotiating record-breaking contracts for his clients. Has he hit a cold...

I'm not defending the Bogaerts contract, I was quite against it at the time. As you said, I think he's just not an elite bat but he got elite bat money, and that's ignoring the years (yikes). My earlier point was just pointing out that some home splits, particularly from the age of turf, are REALLY ugly. I think Kirby Puckett had something like a +.150 OPS bump from the Metrodome vs his road stats.