Steve Drumwright

The San Diego Padres' minor-league catching coordinator who was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement a little more than a week ago is back home with his family. Oswaldo Pirela was released on bond Monday from a detention facility in El Paso, Texas, according to Dennis Lin of The Athletic. Pirelas, 34, was taken into custody at the El Paso airport Aug. 16 as he was returning to his home in Peoria, Ariz., after a trip to watch the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas, the Padres' top minor-league affiliate. Peoria is also the site of the Padres' minor-league headquarters and spring training facility. While Pirela, a native of Venezuela, apparently does have a work visa, he did not have his paperwork on him when confronted by ICE agents. The Department of Homeland Security contends that Pirela was granted permission to be in the U.S. in 2014 until that expired Feb. 10, 2018. This is the third season Pirela has worked for the Padres. He was a catcher in the Texas Rangers' minor-league system from 2009-11. View full rumor

Let's check in on the San Diego Padres prospects who made a mark in the last week (check out Padres Mission's latest Top 20 rankings as well!). Elliot Lascelles, SS, Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm Season stats: .412/.545/.588, 5 games, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 5 BB, 3 K, 1 SB, 0 CS The Padres' second-round draft pick this year couldn't have made much of a bigger splash in his pro debut last week. The 18-year-old shortstop out of Toronto went 3-for-4 with a triple and a stolen base in his first game, including a single in his first plate appearance Tuesday against the San Jose Giants. He had a hit in each of his first four games and finished his first week 7-for-17 with the slash line above. The hit tool was always going to be Lascelles' carrying tool. This past spring, his team had a tour of Arizona and faced minor-league pitching, putting up a .389 batting average with four extra-base hits in 59 games. After getting acclimated to the Padres' system in Arizona for a couple of weeks, Lascelles became the Padres' highest-drafted player this year to make his debut. As his pre-draft scouting report indicated, he has a good eye at the plate and doesn't chase much. With the Storm, he had back-to-back two-walk games and five overall, while striking out three times, two in Sunday's game in which Lascelles went 0-for-4 as Lake Elsinore had just two hits. The Storm have two more weeks in the regular season and then at least one series in the California League postseason after winning the South Division title in the first half. Bradley Frye, IF, High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps Season stats: .279/.377/.391, 99 games, 77 runs, 15 2B, 4 3B, 5 HR, 52 RBI, 48 BB, 89 K, 30 SB, 7 CS After having a good run to begin his first full season in pro ball at Low-A Lake Elsinore, Frye was promoted to High-A Fort Wayne and just had a tremendous week. The 24-year-old, signed as an undrafted free agent last summer out of Mercer, had a .417/.481/.708 (10-for-24) slash line, scoring seven runs and driving in seven. He had two three-hit games last week. That earned him Midwest League Player of the Week honors, joining Alex McCoy as the only TinCaps to win the award this year. Frye had a slash line of .274/.373/.366 in 84 games, with three homers, 43 RBIs and 25 steals at Lake Elsinore. He was promoted Aug. 5 and, in 15 games, has posted a .313/.400/.542 slash line with two of his five homers this year, nine RBIs and five stolen bases in 15 games with the TinCaps. While seeing most of his time at third base this year, he has the versatility to play shortstop and second base, something that will enhance his value as his career progresses. Kannon Kemp, RHP, High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps Season stats: 1-2, 5.45 ERA, 11 games (7 starts), 34⅔ IP, 43 H, 23 R, 21 ER, 13 BB, 26 K, .303 opponent average The 21-year-old right-handed starter, an eighth-round draft choice 2023, had his start to 2026 delayed by a strained left oblique. After 18 games (10 starts) in 2025, including 13 at Low-A Lake Elsinore, he didn't make his season debut until June 18 in the Arizona Complex League, then skipped the Storm and went right to High-A Fort Wayne on July 7. He has appeared in eight games (four starts) for the TinCaps, with a 4.66 ERA in 29 innings, with an 8.3% walk rate and 16.7% strikeout rate. The oblique was the second notable injury Kemp has had since being drafted. He didn't make his pro debut until 2025 due to surgery on his right shoulder in 2024 after reporting to spring camp and feeling discomfort. The Padres showed confidence in Kemp's promise and progress by not even making a couple starts at Lake Elsinore before joining the TinCaps. He will have two more starts before the TinCaps' season wraps up. Albert Fabian, OF, Double-A San Antonio Missions Season stats: .268/.320/.421, 92 games, 35 R, 15 2B, 2 3B, 10 HR, 48 RBI, 27 BB, 68 K, 9 SB, 2 CS One of the steady contributors for Double-A San Antonio all season, the 24-year-old had a nice week, posting a .400/.423/.680 with four doubles, a homer and four RBIs in six games. Fabian's biggest hit came Sunday, when he hit his 10th homer of the season in the ninth inning. That two-run homer would represent the only runs the Padres' four full-season affiliates would score that day. Fabian started the week off Tuesday with his second four-hit game of the season, then had a three-hit game Wednesday. This is part of a strong finish to the season for Fabian, who is slashing .338/.372/.507 in August. He returned to the Padres after becoming a minor-league free agent after 2025 and will have that same choice this offseason. This has been his first full season with the Missions after an injury and rehab limited him to a total of 62 games last year. Eric Yost, RHP, Double-A San Antonio Missions Season stats: 7-2, 3.59 ERA, 21 games (15 starts), 1 save (1 chance) 92⅔ IP, 71 H, 38 R, 37 ER, 50 BB, 90 K, .216 opponent average The 23-year-old right-handed starter is coming off one of his best performances of the season. In Wednesday's 3-2 victory over the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, Yost made just his sixth relief appearance, following left-hander Luis Gutierrez, who made his fourth Double-A start and ninth of the season as he comes back from a shoulder injury. But what a relief appearance it was. Yost went a season-high 6⅓ innings and didn't allow a run or a walk, giving up four hits and striking out six. Yost, Padres Mission's No. 16 prospect, has been really good this season. His 3.59 ERA would lead the Texas League, but he is about three innings shy of qualifying for the leaderboard, missing because of a spot start he made for Triple-A El Paso. But the 2023 17th-round draft choice, while not having a big-time strikeout total (16th in the Texas League), limits contact with a .216 opponent average, which again would lead the league if he qualified. He is eligible for the Rule 5 draft this offseason and a candidate to be protected. View full article

In a move that suddenly gives the San Diego Padres a ton of outfield depth, infielder Sung-Mun Song was optioned to Triple-A El Paso, while outfielder Dustin Harris had his contract selected from the Chihuahuas. Right-handed starter Lucas Giolito was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL to create room for Harris on the 40-man roster. While solid defensively and having played everywhere but first base on the infield, Song has not contributed much offensively in his rookie season. The 29-year-old, who came over to the U.S. from the Korea Baseball Organization, has a slash line of .202/.305/.263 with one homer, 15 RBIs and 12 stolen bases in 62 games. Song did not play at all over the weekend against the Minnesota Twins and is just 2-for-15 with two walks in August. Harris is with his third franchise this season, having been in the majors with the Chicago White Sox and Houston Astros as well. He started the season at Triple-A for the White Sox, then called up for a week in early April before being designated for assignment. The Astros claimed Harris off waivers a few days later and spent three weeks on the major-league roster before being DFA'd again May 5. He was outrighted to Triple-A, but chose to become a free agent, re-signing with the White Sox on a minor-league deal May 12. The White Sox released Harris July 2 and he latched on with the Padres on July 8 on a minor-league contract, going to El Paso. Due to roster shuffling, the Padres released Harris on Aug. 5 and signed him again Aug. 7. Harris has compiled a slash line of .350/.422/.617 in 29 games for the Chihuahuas and .329/.407/.545 in 74 Triple-A games this year. In his two MLB stints this year, he has a .233/.333/.302 slash line in 17 games. He also played in 21 games over the 2024-25 seasons with the Texas Rangers, with a .217/.280/.435 slash line. Harris had two of his 12 Triple-A homers last week. View full rumor

San Diego Padres Weekly Snapshot Record last week: 4-2 (67-58) Runs scored last week: 29 Runs allowed last week: 16 (season run differential: plus-16) Scores Game 126 (Monday): Mets 2, Padres 1 Game 127 (Tuesday): Padres 5, Mets 2 Game 128 (Wednesday): Mets 4, Padres 2 Thursday: Off Game 129 (Friday): Padres 6, Twins 2 Game 130 (Saturday): Padres 7, Twins 5 Game 131 (Sunday): Padres 8, Twins 1 Week in Review and Highlights Mets series Game 1: Manager Craig Stammen has emphasized being aggressive on the basepaths in his first season. That trait likely cost the Padres a victory in their series opener against the New York Mets. The Padres had four runners thrown out at the plate in the first two innings, three by outfielders, in what would wind up being a 2-1 loss to the Mets. The loss didn't hurt in the standings as the Padres remained in the third and final NL wild-card spot, one game behind the Philadelphia Phillies and one ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks. To amplify the outs at the plate, all the runs in this game were scored in the first two innings, the Mets getting two in the bottom of the first and the Friars their lone run in the top of the second. The Padres had four consecutive hits after Fernando Tatis Jr.'s game-opening lineout to the pitcher yet didn't score. How? Jake Cronenworth and Manny Machado had soft singles to left and right to put runners on first and second. Ty France then hit a single to right-center that right fielder Carson Benge, who had outfield assists in the previous two games, fielded and fired home to easily nail Cronenworth, who tried jumping over the tag and tumbled past the plate. That was the second out. Jackson Merrill then lined a single to right that was right at Benge, who came in and threw out Machado trying to score from second by several steps. Four hits, no runs. In the second inning, now trailing 2-0, walks to Luis Campusano and Xander Bogaerts sandwiched Gavin Sheets getting hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Luis Rengifo hit a chopper back to the mound that pitcher Nolan McLean fielded and threw a bit high to home, getting the forceout of Campusano. Tatis just missed a grand slam when he flew out to the warning track in left to bring in Sheets, but leaving Bogaerts at second and Rengifo at first. With two outs, Cronenworth grounded a single to shallow left that left fielder A.J. Ewing charged and got Bogaerts at the plate in a close play. Five baserunners, one run. After that, things were normal. Padres right-handed starter Walker Buehler gave up a single and a walk before Bo Bichette's seeing-eye single grounded between France at first and Cronenworth at second to bring in the first run. After a groundout moved runners to second and third, Luis Robert Jr. hit a sacrifice fly to center for a 2-0 Mets lead. Buehler finished strong, going six innings, allowing no more hits, one more walk and striking out four. Left-hander Kyle Hart finished the final two innings without allowing a run and striking out three. Game 2: This was a Nando game. Tatis had his most dynamic game of the season, flashing the skills that make him one of the game's most electric players. The superstar right fielder hit the first pitch of the game for a homer, dramatically robbed a grand slam, then bashed another homer to carry the Padres to a 5-2 victory over the Mets. The win kept the Padres in the No. 3 NL wild-card position, one game behind the Phillies, but now two games ahead of the D'backs, who lost. Tatis' curious season has gone from no power production at all to now one of a reliable source of homers. The pair he hit Tuesday gave him 15 for the year, with seven coming in the first 18 days of August. His 452-foot first-pitch ambush gave him four homers of 450 feet or better this year, more than any other player in MLB, including all those players with at least 30 homers. He went oppo taco for a two-run shot in the fifth inning for a 3-0 Friars advantage. But the game turned on his defensive play. The two-time Platinum Glove winner as the NL's best overall defender stole four runs from the Mets when fellow superstar Francisco Lindor launched a 1-0 Robbie Ray sinker down the right-field line. Tatis raced back to the wall and timed his leap one step from the wall perfectly, then played showman as he landed and his hat flew off, waiting a couple beats while staring straight-ahead before flipping the ball from his glove to his barehand, signifying he made the dramatic catch to end the bottom of the second inning. It kept the Mets scoreless instead of putting New York up 4-1. From there, Ray, the left-hander who likes to dance in and out of trouble, kept things in relative control. Although he did give up a solo homer among his three hits allowed, he kept a lifeless Mets lineup in check, earning his first win with the Friars. With some well-rested arms in the bullpen, two hitters reached against right-hander Bradgley Rodriguez, one on a Bogaerts error and another on a hit, before left-hander Adrian Morejon came on to face the switch-hitting Lindor, getting him to pop out and striking out Bichette. Robert tagged Morejon's first pitch of the eight for a home run before finishing the inning. After Machado homered in the top of the ninth to make it 5-2, that brought in right-handed closer Mason Miller, who hadn't pitched in nearly a week. The superstar didn't show any rust, retiring all three batters he faced, striking out Lindor and Bichette to wrap up his 31st save this year. The punchout of Bichette was fairly comical after Miller threw the first pitch back to the screen, then had Bichette flailing. Game 3: Losing a series to the Mets is not optimal for a team with postseason aspirations. But the way the Padres have played over the last month afforded them a blip. The only question is whether this blip will come back to haunt them. With right-handed starter Michael King turning in a nice 6⅔ innings but the offense not firing on all cylinders, the Padres dropped a 4-2 decision to the Mets and two of three games in the series. The Friars ended a six-game road trip against the Mets and Cleveland Guardians 3-3, still remaining in the No. 3 NL wild-card position, but now two games behind the No. 2 wild card Phillies and a game up on the D'backs. Another former Friars pitcher had a hand in this one. Mets right-handed starter Robert Stock, who was designated for assignment by the Padres after the 2019 season and been a journeyman since, struck out six over 4⅓ innings, giving up a run on two hits. Five Mets relievers held the Padres down until a run in the ninth. King was good, although he gave up a two-run homer to Benge in the fourth, finishing an out shy of seven innings but trailing 2-1. Right-hander Jeremiah Estrada got out of a two-on jam when Tatis threw out Francisco Alvarez at the plate. Estrada got into trouble in the eighth with a one-out walk, a stolen base and a single putting runners on the corners. Estrada induced Bichette into what could have been an inning-ending double play, but Sung-Mun Song, who moved from third base to shortstop due to a cramp to Bogaerts, charged and threw wildly to second, allowing a run to score to make it 3-1. Left-hander Yuki Matsui came in to face the switch-hitting Benge, who hit a grounder to second and Cronenworth threw out the runner at home for the second out. But with runners on the corners, Jared Young singled off Matsui to put the Mets up 4-1. The Padres would quickly bring the tying run to the plate in the top of the ninth against beleaguered starter-turned-reliever Kodai Sengai. With one out, Rengifo singled and Campusano walked. Sheets pinch-hit for Jase Bowen and delivered an RBI single to pull the Padres within 4-2. Austin Hays pinch-hit for Song, but hit into a double play to end the game. The Padres rank second in MLB in hitting into the most double plays. Bogaerts left due to a cramp in his right hamstring, something to monitor, even though Stammen said "he's fine." Twins series Game 1: How the Padres figure out their rotation from here will be interesting, but in a good way. Just three weeks prior, two of their rotation spots were filled with the chaos plan of short starts, would-be starters in relief and then the bullpen. Following the trade-deadline acquisitions of two starters and the impending return of Joe Musgrove after another turn (or two?) through the rotation, right-hander Randy Vasquez is complicating that discussion and suddenly giving the Padres six reliable starters. That is a result of his surprising seven innings in a 6-2 series-opening victory over the Minnesota Twins, who could manage just two hits. The Friars maintained their No. 3 spot in the NL wild-card standings, remaining two games behind the Phillies and holding a two-game lead over D'backs for the final spot. It was a good combination of pitching and offense. France and Tatis led the way at the plate. France smashed his 18th homer of the season, a two-run shot, into the second deck in left field in the bottom of the first and adding a fifth-inning sacrifice fly. He also walked twice. Tatis went 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. His hit in the fifth was the first of three straight RBI singles, with Rengifo and Machado following suit before France capped the four-run outburst. But this was Vasquez's game, although that was briefly in doubt. It is widely expected that Vasquez is on the rotation chopping block when Musgrove, who will have one more rehab start this week, comes off the injured list. But he has had three very good outings in his four starts since the deadline, perhaps feeling a bit underappreciated and wanting to make sure no one forgot what he can do. Vasquez went seven innings for the second time this season and turned in the Friars' fifth straight quality start, something that hasn't been done in two seasons. Before this stretch, the Padres hadn't had more than two in a row. He allowed both of the Twins' hits and runs, while not issuing a walk and striking out three. Vasquez got into trouble once. After retiring the first nine hitters of the game, he allowed a leadoff single to Luke Keaschall in the fourth, then a forceout grounder to Byron Buxton. After hitting former Padre Josh Bell and getting Ryan Jeffers to line out to right, Kody Clemens rocketed a triple off the wall in right that tied the game 2-2. There might have been a time where manager Craig Stammen would have removed Vasquez from the game, but the vibes are good with the rotation and his patience paid off. Clemens was stranded at third as Vasquez retired the final 10 Twins he faced. Rodriguez pitched a perfect eighth and Miller came on in a nonsave situation and punched out all three batters he faced. Vasquez is now tied with Morejon for the team lead with nine wins. Game 2: Things didn't start well for Casey Mize, then they got worse for the Padres' right-handed starter. But thankfully for the Friars, the bottom line was exactly what they were looking for. After Mize gave up three early homers and then left after slipping on the dugout steps, the Padres rallied for a four-run seventh inning to pull out a 7-5 victory over the Twins. The victory was due as much to an unsung hero as it was someone who has come through all season. Right-hander Griffin Canning, relegated to the bullpen after failing to produce as a starter, pitched 3⅓ scoreless innings to give the offense a chance to come back. The rally in the seventh was capped by France, who singled home the go-ahead run. Mize had already given up three solo homers when he left the mound after the top of the second. As he went down the dugout steps, he caught a cleat and twisted his right ankle. He went out for the top of the third under the watchful eye of the training staff and got two outs before giving up a double with his velocity down a couple ticks, prompting his exit from the game. It is not known whether he will make his next start. For a moment, it rekindled the chaos pitching plan as Hart got the next three outs, allowing that inherited runner to score, then one of his own as the Padres were suddenly in a 5-1 hole. That one run came on a Merrill homer in the second, his 20th of the season. Merrill drove in another run in the sixth to make it 5-2 before the Padres used some more of their late-inning magic in the seventh. With one out, Fermin reached on catcher's interference, Tatis singled and Cronenworth drove both home with a double to left, trimming the deficit to 5-4. Machado hit a grounder to shortstop and Cronenworth broke to third and would have been out except the third baseman whiffed on the catch. Cronenworth sped home with the tying run, with Machado taking second. France then sent an opposite-field single down the right-field line, bringing home Machado with the go-ahead run. The Friars would add another in the eighth on singles by Campusano, Fermin and Tatis. After Canning's big effort and now with the lead, Morejon mowed down the Twins in the eighth and Miller came on for a perfect ninth, including a nice running catch in the right-field corner by Tatis, notching his 32nd save. Game 3: For the second time this week, Tatis took over a game. Only this time, it was just his bat. The Padres' superstar had his second two-homer game of the week to back a strong performance from Buehler in an 8-1 victory over the Twins, completing a three-game sweep. The Phillies and D'backs also won, keeping the Friars in the No. 3 and final position in the NL wild-card chase, two games behind Philadelphia and two games in front of Arizona. The Padres swept a Twins team that entered the weekend tied for the third AL wild-card spot, but below .500. This game was not as dramatic for Tatis as his game Monday vs. the Mets was, but it may have been more impressive. Tatis went 4-for-5 with four RBIs and his 29th steal of the season, hitting solo homers in the third and eighth innings. The 10 total bases were his most this year, while it was his second four-RBI game in 2026. Tatis' 12 homers since the All-Star break are the most in MLB, giving him 17 for the season. Merrill also homered, his 11th since the break, second in as many days and 21st of the season. It was a 1-1 game entering the sixth, when the Padres put up a four-spot. Rengifo snapped that tie with a two-run double, then Tatis followed with a two-RBI single. Merrill's two-run blast came in the seventh. Tatis' performance overshadowed what Buehler did, but was equally as important. Buehler turned in the Padres' sixth quality start in seven games, going six innings, allowing a run on four hits with no walks and four punchouts. It was his third straight six-inning start after having three in his previous 23 games. Peralta and Matsui took care of business after that. The Padres now welcome the Pittsburgh Pirates to Petco Park, a team that is slipping in the NL wild-card standings. Marvelous Mason Miller Some of the amazing stats for the Padres' closer: Season stats: 4-1, 0.83 ERA, 52 games, 32 saves (33 chances), 54⅓ IP, 24 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 19 BB, 99 K, .131 opponent average Ranks second in the NL and fourth in MLB with 32 saves. Struck out the side Friday, the eighth time he has done that, twice as many as any other reliever in MLB. He has struck out three in an inning 14 times. Has finished 43 of the Padres' 71 victories this year. Has a 47.1% whiff rate, which leads MLB. Random Stats Manny Machado's ninth-inning homer Tuesday snapped a 20-game homerless Luis Campusano and Freddy Fermin have combined to reach base at least once in 34 of 36 games since the All-Star break. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jake Cronenworth joined an exclusive group this week. The duo each surpassed 200 total bases and already had 20 steals, making them the first teammates with 200-20 this season and two of nine in all of MLB. Ty France's three RBIs Friday gave him a team-high of eight games with at least three RBIs, while playing in about one-third fewer games than the other big offensive contributors. In Sunday's game, Gavin Sheets and Austin Hays split the designated hitter duties, with each going 0-for-0 with two walks. Hays scored twice. The Padres had their 53rd sellout Sunday in 66 games at Petco Park this season. Transactions Tuesday: Sent LF Samad Taylor on a rehab assignment to El Paso Chihuahuas. Website Highlights Feliciano, Jones approved as Padres' new owners — Steve Drumwright Tatis is, once again, one of the best players in baseball — Randy Holt Tatis, Merrill anchoring Padres' defensive turnaround — Randy Holt Clarifying Padres' options for adding Salas to the postseason roster — Steve Drumwright Rengifo has been a spark plug to the Padres' second-half success — Cade Lalim Morgan belongs in the Padres' bullpen — Randy Holt Elite-as-advertised bullpen is Padres' great equalized entering stretch run — Sam Caulder Padres have been hit hard by injuries, but it could be worse — Steve Drumwright Looking Ahead Monday: Pirates (Braxton Ashcraft) at Padres (Robbie Ray), 6:40 p.m. Tuesday: Pirates (Paul Skenes) at Padres (Michael King), 6:40 p.m. Wednesday: Pirates (Bubba Chandler) at Padres (Randy Vasquez), 1:10 p.m. Thursday: Off Friday: Padres (Casey Mize) at Rays, 4:10 p.m. Saturday: Padres (Walker Buehler) at Rays, 1:10 p.m. Sunday: Padres (Robbie Ray) at Rays, 10:40 a.m. View full article

Sunday was not a fun day for the San Diego Padres' four full-season affiliates. There was a severe lack of offense all around as the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas lost to Round Rock 8-0, the Double-A San Antonio Missions fell to Northwest Arkansas 7-2, the Fort Wayne TinCaps fell to Great Lakes 2-0 in 10 innings and the Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm tumbled to San Jose 5-0. Padres Minor-League Transactions None. Chihuahuas Lose Grip Late, Run Over By Express A pitching duel for six innings turned into a blowout as the host Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas gave up seven late runs in an 8-0 loss to the Round Rock Express. While being shut out for the fourth time this year, the Chihuahuas (50-75, 15-35 second half) went 2-4 in the six-game series. Rehabbing Padres left fielder Samad Taylor, batting leadoff, went 1-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout for the Chihuahuas. Taylor, coming back from an oblique injury, is 5-for-17 with a solo homer, two walks and six strikeouts in five rehab games. While Taylor might be ready, the Padres may also want to keep Taylor down another week before rosters expand Sept. 1. Chihuahuas left-handed starter Jagger Haynes allowed just one run in five innings on two hits and three walks with four strikeouts. Right-hander Daison Acosta then gave up three runs in two innings, right-hander Jose Leclerc four runs in two-thirds and right-hander Hunter Stratton a scoreless final 1⅓ innings. Ethan Salas, Padres Mission's No. 1 prospect, went 0-for-3 with two walks. He is 22-for-64 (.344/.449/.469) with three homers and 20 RBIs in 19 Triple-A games. Player AB R H RBI BB K Samad Taylor (LF) 4 0 1 0 1 1 Carlos Rodríguez (CF) 4 0 1 0 0 0 Nick Solak (DH) 4 0 1 0 0 0 Ethan Salas (C) 4 0 0 0 0 0 Marcos Castañon (1B) 4 0 0 0 0 0 Will Wagner (3B) 3 0 0 0 1 0 Mason McCoy (SS) 3 0 1 0 1 1 Gage Workman (2B) 4 0 2 0 0 0 Bryce Johnson (RF) 3 0 1 0 1 1 Totals 33 0 7 0 4 3 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Jagger Haynes (L, 0-4) 5 2 1 1 3 4 0 Daison Acosta 2 2 3 2 2 0 1 José Leclerc 0 2/3 5 4 4 1 0 0 Hunter Stratton 1 1/3 0 0 0 0 2 0 Totals 9 9 8 7 6 6 1 Missions Misfire In Splitting Series With Naturals The host Double-A San Antonio Missions were held scoreless until the ninth inning in a 7-2 loss to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. The Missions (54-66, 23-28) won the first three games and ended up splitting the six-game series. The Missions had just two hits entering the bottom of the ninth. Romeo Sanabria had a one-out single and Albert Fabian blasted his 10th homer of the season, an opposite-field shot to left-center. Sanabria had two of the Missions' four hits, also notching a double. Missions left-handed starter Fernando Sanchez allowed two runs (one earned) in 3⅔ innings, striking out five. Right-hander Clay Edmondson gave up a run in 1⅓ innings, then right-hander Sadrac Franco tossed two scoreless innings. Right-handers Johan Moreno and Garrett Hawkins each gave up two runs in an inning. The Naturals scored once in each of the first, fourth and fifth innings and remained a 3-0 game until getting two in each of the eighth and ninth innings. SA_0823.mp4 Player AB R H RBI BB K Braedon Karpathios (RF) 4 0 0 0 0 2 Alex McCoy (DH) 4 0 0 0 0 2 Romeo Sanabria (1B) 4 1 2 0 0 0 Albert Fabian (LF) 4 1 1 2 0 1 Ryan Jackson (2B) 4 0 0 0 0 3 Justin DeCriscio (SS) 3 0 0 0 0 3 Luis Verdugo (3B) 2 0 1 0 0 0 Anthony Vilar (C) 3 0 0 0 0 2 Kai Roberts (CF) 3 0 0 0 0 2 Totals 31 2 4 2 0 15 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Fernando Sanchez (L, 1-3) 3 2/3 2 2 1 2 5 0 Clay Edmondson 1 1/3 2 1 1 1 2 0 Sadrac Franco 2 2 0 0 0 3 0 Johan Moreno 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 Garrett Hawkins 1 2 2 2 1 3 0 Totals 9 10 7 6 5 14 1 TinCaps Blanked, Fall Again In Extras To Loons Scoreless heading into extra innings, the host High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps couldn't keep the Great Lakes Loons off the board and then were unable to retaliate, leading to a 2-0 loss in 10 innings. The TinCaps (50-68, 23-29 second half) won four of the seven games in this series, including the completion of a suspended game. The final three games went to extra innings. TinCaps right-handed starter Kannon Kemp went five shutout innings, allowing three hits and two walks while fanning four. Right-hander Will Koger had a scoreless inning and right-hander Brett Langley made his High-A debut with two scoreless. He was promoted from Low-A Lake Elsinore on Saturday. Right-hander Bernard Jose finished the final two innings, giving up both the runs in the 10th. Offesnively, the TinCaps managed just four hits, but did walk seven times. Yimy Tovar walked three times, while Ryan Wideman (Padres Mission's No. 2 prospect) didn't have a hit, but did steal to bases to give him 65, which is second in the minors. He has 22 since being promoted from Lake Elsinore in late June. Player AB R H RBI BB K Kasen Wells (LF) 5 0 0 0 0 2 Ryan Wideman (CF) 4 0 0 0 0 2 Rosman Verdugo (SS) 1 0 0 0 0 1 Yimy Tovar (2B) 1 0 0 0 3 0 Robbie Lavey (DH) 4 0 0 0 1 3 Dylan Grego (PR) 0 0 0 0 0 0 Bradley Frye (SS) 4 0 1 0 1 2 Luke Cantwell (1B) 3 0 1 0 1 0 Kerrington Cross (3B) 4 0 1 0 0 0 Carlos Rodriguez (C) 3 0 0 0 1 2 Conner Westenburg (RF) 4 0 1 0 0 3 Totals 33 0 4 0 7 15 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Kannon Kemp 5 3 0 0 2 4 0 Will Koger 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 Brandon Langley 2 0 0 0 1 4 0 Bernard Jose (L, 0-1) 2 4 2 1 0 0 1 Totals 10 7 2 1 4 9 1 Storm Shackled, Only Get 2 Hits In 6-Game Sweep Right-handed starter Luis Maracara struck out seven over four shutout innings, but the host Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm could only produce two hits and gave up a five-run eighth in a 5-0 loss to the San Jose Giants. The Storm (61-59, 22-32 second half) lost all six games in the series and have dropped seven in a row. The only hits came from Truitt Madonna, who doubled in the third, and seventh-round draft choice Joe Tiroly, who singled in the seventh. Second-round draft choice Elliot Lascelles, Padres Mission's No. 11 prospect, had his four-game hitting streak to begin his career snapped, going 0-for-4. Maracara allowed just three hits and didn't walk anyone. The 19-year-old has struck out 20 over his last 11 innings in his last three starts. Right-hander Florangel Vasquez went two shutout innings. Left-hander Andrew Wright, an undrafted free agent out of Cal State Fullerton in his third pro game, allowed three runs in 1⅓ innings, while right-hander Jordan Valenzuela gave up two runs in two-thirds of an inning. Right-hander Jack Pineau, an undrafted free agent out of Creighton, made his pro debut with a scoreless ninth. Player AB R H RBI BB K Elliot Lascelles (SS) 4 0 0 0 0 2 Jorge Quintana (3B) 4 0 0 0 0 0 Joe Tiroly (DH) 3 0 1 0 1 0 Nu'u Contrades (2B) 4 0 0 0 0 2 Chris McHugh (RF) 2 0 0 0 0 2 Jesmaylin Arias (RF) 1 0 0 0 0 1 Alex Conover (LF) 3 0 0 0 0 1 Truitt Madonna (C) 3 0 1 0 0 1 Augie Lopez (1B) 2 0 0 0 0 0 Dawson Willis (1B) 1 0 0 0 0 1 Qrey Lott (CF) 2 0 0 0 1 1 Totals 29 0 2 0 2 11 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Luis Maracara 4 3 0 0 0 7 0 Florangel Vasquez 2 0 0 0 2 2 0 Andrew Wright (L, 0-1) 1 1/3 3 3 3 1 2 0 Jordan Valenzuela 0 2/3 1 2 2 2 0 1 Jack Pineau 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 Totals 9 7 5 5 5 12 1 Padres Mission's Top 20 Prospect Performance Ethan Salas, C: 0-for-4 Ryan Wideman, CF: 0-for-4, 2 K Coleman Borthwick, RHP: In Arizona Kruz Schoolcraft, LHP: DNP Ty Harvey, C: DNP Kale Fountain, OF: Injured, out for season Jorge Quintana, SS: 0-for-4 Alex McCoy, LF: 0-for-4, 2 K Braedon Karpathios, RF: 0-for-4, 2 K Lamar King Jr., C: DNP Elliot Lascelles, SS: 0-for-4, 2 K Tucker Musgrove, RHP: DNP Jagger Haynes, LHP: 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K (L) Jake Cunningham, OF: DNP Truitt Madonna, C: 1-for-3, 2B, 1 K Eric Yost, RHP: DNP Winyer Chourio, RHP: DNP Jesus Castro, RHP: DNP Michael Salina, RHP: DNP Rosman Verdugo, SS: 0-for-1, 1 K View full article

The four full-season San Diego Padres affiliates went 1-3 Saturday with the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas edged by Round Rock 7-6, the Double-A San Antonio Missions falling to Northwest Arkansas 3-2, the High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps rallying to beat Great Lakes 6-5 in 10 innings and the Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm tumbled to San Jose 6-2. Padres Minor-League Transactions El Paso Chihuahuas released RHP Andrew Thurman. RHP Brandon Langley assigned to Fort Wayne TinCaps from Lake Elsinore Storm. RHP Albert Roblez assigned to Lake Elsinore Storm from ACL Padres. RHP Jack Pineau assigned to Lake Elsinore Storm from ACL Padres. Lake Elsinore Storm transferred C Jake Bold to the Development List. Chihuahuas Get Big Hits, Just Not Enough In Late Loss Nick Solak homered and Dustin Harris had a bases-loaded triple, but the host Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas saw the Round Rock Express score twice in the top of the eighth to snap a tie in a 7-6 loss. Solak had two hits, including a solo homer in the first inning, Nick Pratto had a pair of doubles and scored twice and Gage Workman also had two hits for the Chihuahuas. It was a bit of a back-and-forth game. After Solak's 14th homer of the season, the Express went up 3-1 with two in the second and one in the third, then the Chihuahuas came back with three of their own in the fourth. Two walks and a single loaded the bases and set Harris up for his fifth triple of the season and third since joining the Chihuahuas, putting El Paso up 4-3. The Express got one in each of the fifth and sixth to regain the lead at 5-4, then the Chihuahuas tied in the seventh on a Harris walk, a Workman single and Solak's RBI single. The Express took the lead for good with a pair in the top of the eighth. The Chihuahuas rallied in the bottom of the eighth as Pratto had a leadoff double, pinch-hitter Carlos Rodriguez singled and Clay Dungan had a sacrifice fly. But the next two hitters made outs to end the threat. EP_0822.mp4 Player AB R H RBI BB K Dustin Harris 4 1 1 3 1 0 Gage Workman 5 0 2 0 0 3 Nick Solak 4 1 2 2 0 0 Samad Taylor 1 0 1 0 0 0 Ethan Salas 4 0 0 0 1 0 Marcos Castañon 4 0 0 0 0 2 Nick Pratto 3 2 2 0 1 0 Rodolfo Durán 2 1 1 0 0 0 Carlos Rodríguez 1 0 1 0 0 0 Blake Hunt 0 0 0 0 0 0 Clay Dungan 2 0 0 1 1 0 Bryce Johnson 3 1 0 0 1 2 Player IP H R ER BB K HR JP Sears 1 2/3 2 2 2 2 2 0 Logan Gillaspie 3 1/3 5 2 2 0 3 0 Hans Crouse 1 2/3 3 1 1 2 3 0 Alek Jacob 2 1/3 3 2 2 1 3 0 Strong Outing By Ian Koenig Goes For Naught In Missions' Loss Right-hander Ian Koenig took a hard-luck loss, pitching into the seventh inning, where the host Double-A San Antonio Missions gave up the go-ahead run in a 3-2 loss to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. Tirso Ornelas went 3-for-5 with an RBI, while Braedon Karpathios (Padres Mission's No. 9 prospect) had two hits, including a double, and scored once, while Romeo Sanabria had two hits and an RBI and Justin DeCriscio two hits for the Missions, who out hit the Travelers 12-7. Koenig, who has three seven-inning starts this year, came one out shy of a fourth, allowing all three runs on six hits with no walks and five strikeouts. This was his fifth straight outing of six or more innings. He left after allowing a double and a hit by pitch in the seventh, then left-hander Igor Gil uncorked a first-pitch wild pitch that brought in the go-ahead run, then two walks. Gil did not allow a run against him in his one inning of work, then right-hander Josh Mallitz finished the final 1⅓ scoreless. The Travelers scored one in the top of the first, then the Missions came back with Karpathios' double and Ornelas' one-out single. The Missions went up 2-1 in the third as Alex McCoy, Padres Mission's No. 8 prospect, doubled and scored on Sanabria's one-out single. The Travelers, however, tied it back up in the fourth. SA_0822.mp4 Player AB R H RBI BB K Braedon Karpathios 5 1 2 0 0 1 Kai Roberts 0 0 0 0 0 0 Alex McCoy 5 1 1 0 0 2 Tirso Ornelas 5 0 3 1 0 0 Romeo Sanabria 4 0 2 1 0 0 Jack Costello 4 0 1 0 0 1 Albert Fabian 4 0 0 0 0 1 Justin DeCriscio 4 0 2 0 0 1 Wyatt Hoffman 4 0 1 0 0 0 Brendan Durfee 3 0 0 0 1 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Ian Koenig 6 2/3 6 3 3 0 5 1 Igor Gil 1 0 0 0 3 2 0 Josh Mallitz 1 1/3 1 0 0 1 1 0 Lamar King Jr. Finishes Big Day With Walk-Off For TinCaps In yet another wild finish, the host High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps rallied from a 4-0 deficit, tying the game in bottom of the ninth on a wild pitch and winning it on Lamar King Jr.'s walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th for a 6-5 victory over the Great Lakes Loons. King, Padres Mission's No. 10 prospect, had three hits, including a double, and three RBIs. Ryan Wideman, Padres Mission's No. 2 prospect, went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, a hit by pitch and his 63rd stolen base of the season, the second-most across all of the minors. Bradley Frye also had two hits, a walk and an RBI while scoring three times. Six Loons pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts. TinCaps right-handed starter Bryan Balzer allowed three runs over 3⅔ innings, walking four. Right-hander Abraham Parra followed by striking out seven in 5⅓ innings, giving up two runs and not walking anyone. Right-hander Jeferson Villabona pitched a perfect but unique top of the 10th, facing just two batters with the second hitting a liner back to Villabona, who spun and threw to second to nail the zombie runner for an inning-ending double play. Trailing 4-0 after five innings, the TinCaps sliced that deficit in half in the sixth on Frye's run-scoring single and King doubled home Frye. Kasen Wells then singled home Conner Westenburg in the seventh and King drove in Frye again in the eighth, this time on a single, to tie it 4-4. The Loons grabbed the lead in the top of the ninth on Emil Morales' minors-leading 111th RBI. Cross opened the bottom of the ninth with a single, then Westenburg had a bunt single. After a strikeout, Wideman was hit by a pitch to load the bases, then Cross scampered home on a wild pitch. In the 10th, Carlos Rodriguez bunted zombie runner Frye to third, then King flared the first pitch he saw to center for the victory. FW_0822.mp4 Player AB R H RBI BB K Kasen Wells 5 0 1 1 0 3 Ryan Wideman 3 1 2 0 1 0 Rosman Verdugo 5 0 1 0 0 3 Bradley Frye 4 3 2 1 1 1 Carlos Rodriguez 4 0 0 0 0 3 Lamar King Jr. 4 0 3 3 0 1 Yoiber Ocopio 3 0 0 0 0 2 Luke Cantwell 1 0 0 0 0 0 Dylan Grego 3 0 0 0 0 2 Kerrington Cross 1 1 1 0 0 0 Conner Westenburg 3 1 1 0 1 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Bryan Balzer 3 2/3 3 3 3 4 2 0 Abraham Parra 5 1/3 5 2 2 0 7 0 Jeferson Villabona 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 Tyler Schmitt, Draft Picks Shine, But Storm Fall Right-handed starter Tyler Schmitt struck out six while turning in five solid innings, but a three-run seventh inning was too much to overcome as the host Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm fell to the San Jose Giants 6-3. Seventh-round draft choice Joe Tiroly hit his second homer in eight professional games, while second-round draft pick Elliot Lascelles went 1-for-3 with two walks. The 18-year-old Lascelles, Padres Mission's No. 11 prospect, has hit in all four games he has played since making his pro debut Tuesday, going 7-for-13 (.538/.667/.769) with five walks and one strikeout. Fourth-round pick Alex Conover had a pair of singles and scored once. Schmitt went five innings, giving up a three-run third. He allowed four hits and walked three. Right-hander Yoesmerli Beltre gave up three runs while getting four outs. Right-hander Albert Roblez, the Padres' 16th-round draft pick and Riverside native who was promoted from the Arizona Complex League before the game, made his pro debut by retiring all four batters he faced, striking out two, including the first batter he faced. Right-hander Ryan Reed got the final four outs. Tiroly launched his homer in the bottom of the first, a solo shot down the left-field line. The Giants then scored three in the top of the second to take the lead for good. The Storm made it 3-2 when they executed a double steal and Conover swiped home, already his sixth steal in 11 games. The Giants put up another three-spot in the top of the seventh, with the Storm getting one of those back in the bottom half as Jesmaylin Arias singled and went to third as the right fielder booted the ball. One out later, Arias scored on a wild pitch. LE_0822.mp4 Player AB R H RBI BB K Elliot Lascelles 3 0 1 0 2 0 Jose Verdugo 3 0 0 0 1 2 Nu'u Contrades 1 0 0 0 0 1 Joe Tiroly 4 1 1 1 0 0 Ty Harvey 3 0 0 0 1 1 Alex Conover 3 1 2 0 1 0 Qrey Lott 3 0 0 0 1 2 Truitt Madonna 3 0 0 0 0 1 Chris McHugh 1 0 1 0 0 0 Jesmaylin Arias 4 1 1 0 0 1 Dawson Willis 3 0 0 0 1 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Tyler Schmitt 5 4 3 3 3 6 0 Yoesmerli Beltre 1 1/3 3 3 3 2 0 0 Albert Roblez 1 1/3 0 0 0 0 2 0 Ryan Reed 1 1/3 2 0 0 1 1 0 Padres Mission's Top 20 Prospect Performance Ethan Salas: 0-for-4, BB Ryan Wideman: 2-for-3, 2B, BB, HBP, R Coleman Borthwick: In Arizona Kruz Schoolcraft: DNP Ty Harvey: 0-for-3, BB, K Kale Fountain: Injured, out for season Jorge Quintana: DNP Alex McCoy: 1-for-5, 2B, R, 2 K Braedon Karpathios: 2-for-5, 2B, R, K Lamar King Jr.: 3-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI, K Elliot Lascelles: 1-for-3, 2 BB Tucker Musgrove: DNP Jagger Haynes: DNP Jake Cunningham: DNP Truitt Madonna: 0-for-3, K Eric Yost: DNP Winyer Chourio: DNP Jesus Castro: DNP Michael Salina: DNP Rosman Verdugo: 1-for-5, 2B, 3 K View full article

The San Diego Padres' four full-season affiliates went 0-4 Friday as the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas were drubbed by Round Rock 15-7, the Double-A San Antonio Missions were stopped by Northwest Arkansas 8-1, the High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps lost to Great Lakes 13-8 in 10 innings and the Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm got crushed by San Jose 21-2. Padres Minor-League Transactions El Paso Chihuahuas activated RHP Evan Fitterer from the 7-day injured list. Chihuahuas Get Roughed Up By Express It was a rough night on the mound for the host Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas, who were down 8-0 in the fourth inning en route to a 15-7 loss to the Round Rock Express. Rehabbing Padres left fielder Samad Taylor went 2-for-5 with a stolen base and two strikeouts while playing all nine innings in center field. He is 3-for-12 with a homer in three rehab games. Blake Hunt came off the bench and hit his 12th Triple-A homer, while starting catcher Ethan Salas, Padres Mission's No. 1 prospect, went 2-for-3 and has reached base in 16 of the 17 Triple-A games he has played. Leadoff hitter Dustin Harris went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Marcos Castanon had two hits and an RBI and Mason McCoy two hits, a walk and a run scored. Chihuahuas right-handed starter Evan Fitterer came off the seven-day injured list and went two innings, allowing two runs on three hits, including a homer, and a walk with two strikeouts. Right-hander Andrew Thurman came on and gave up six runs on eight walks and four hits over 1⅓ innings, then right-hander Ethan Routzahn surrendered four runs over 2⅔ innings. The only Chihuahuas pitcher not to allow a run was right-hander J.P. France, who allowed two hits over two innings, with right-hander Jose Leclerc pitching the ninth and allowing three runs. EP_0821.mp4 Player AB R H RBI BB K Dustin Harris 5 2 3 2 0 1 Samad Taylor 5 0 2 0 0 2 Carlos Rodríguez 5 1 1 1 0 1 Nick Solak 4 1 1 1 0 1 Ethan Salas 3 0 2 0 0 0 Blake Hunt 2 1 1 2 0 0 Marcos Castañon 5 0 2 1 0 1 Will Wagner 5 0 1 0 0 2 Rodolfo Durán 3 1 0 0 1 0 Mason McCoy 3 1 2 0 1 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Evan Fitterer 2 3 2 2 1 2 1 Andrew Thurman 1 1/3 4 6 6 8 1 0 Ethan Routzahn 2 2/3 3 4 4 2 1 1 J.P. France 2 2 0 0 1 2 0 José Leclerc 1 3 3 3 1 0 2 Missions Can't Handle Early Push By Naturals Right-handed starter Victor Lizarraga's return to Triple-A San Antonio was a rude one, giving up five runs, as the host Missions were dropped by the Northwest Arkansas Naturals 8-1. Jack Costello had two of the five hits for the Missions and stole a base, while Ryan Jackson was on base twice via walks and also had a steal. Lizarraga, who went down to the Arizona Complex League following a July 8 start for the Missions, had one start at Low-A Lake Elsinore last week (three runs in three innings) before rejoining San Antonio. He allowed those five runs over 3⅓ innings. The Naturals scored two in the first and four in the fourth. The Missions were kept off the board until the ninth, when Tirso Ornelas had a leadoff double and scored on Costello's two-out single to left. SA_0821.mp4 Player AB R H RBI BB K Braedon Karpathios 4 0 0 0 0 2 Alex McCoy 4 0 1 0 0 2 Tirso Ornelas 4 1 1 0 0 0 Albert Fabian 4 0 1 0 0 2 Ryan Jackson 2 0 0 0 2 1 Jack Costello 4 0 2 1 0 0 Luis Verdugo 4 0 0 0 0 1 Anthony Vilar 2 0 0 0 1 1 Kai Roberts 3 0 0 0 0 2 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Victor Lizarraga 3 1/3 5 5 5 1 2 0 Harry Gustin 1 2/3 2 1 1 2 4 0 Francis Peña 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 Clay Edmondson 1 1 0 0 1 3 0 Johan Moreno 2/3 2 2 2 0 2 0 Wyatt Hoffman 1/3 2 0 0 0 0 0 TinCaps, Once Down 5-0, Tie It In Ninth, But Surrender 5 In 10th Bradley Frye hit a three-run homer and Rosman Verdugo added a solo shot, but the host High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps gave up a five-run top of the 10th inning that was too much to overcome in a 13-8 loss to the Great Lakes Loons. Fourth-round draft Robbie Lavey had a big moment, driving in the tying run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth with his first professional double. Frye had two hits and scored twice, Verdugo two hits (including a double), two RBIs and a run scored, Kasen Wells two hits and an RBI and Dylan Grego went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Lavey also drew two walks to reach base three times, stole a base and scored once. TinCaps right-handed starter Matthew Watson allowed five hits in 3⅔ innings, including four walks. Right-handers Will Varmette (2⅓ innings) and Bernard Jose (two innings) turned in strong relief outings as neither allowed a hit or a run. Right-hander Sean Barnett nearly had the save despite walking a pair, but a two-out throwing error by Frye after a tremendous diving stop to his left allowed the tying and go-ahead runs to score. Right-hander Isaiah Lowe allowed five runs (four earned) in the top of the 10th on three hits and two walks. The TinCaps were down 5-0 after the top of the fourth, but erased that deficit in the bottom half. Lavey had a leadoff walk, Luke Cantwell a one-out free pass then Frye launched his second High-A homer and fifth of the season to make it 5-3. Yimy Tovar, Grego and Wells had consecutive singles to pull the TinCaps within 5-4. Following a pitching change, Ryan Wideman hit a grounder that resulted in Wells being forced out at second, then Verdugo doubled home Wideman, who was thrown out at the plate. Verdugo hit his 14th homer of the season in the bottom of the seventh to put the TinCaps up 7-6. FW_0821.mp4 Player AB R H RBI BB K Kasen Wells 5 1 2 1 0 0 Ryan Wideman 5 0 0 0 0 1 Rosman Verdugo 5 1 2 2 0 1 Robbie Lavey 3 1 1 1 2 2 Kerrington Cross 5 0 0 0 0 4 Luke Cantwell 3 1 0 0 2 0 Bradley Frye 5 2 2 3 0 0 Yimy Tovar 5 1 1 0 0 1 Dylan Grego 3 1 2 1 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Matthew Watson 3 2/3 4 5 5 4 4 0 Javier Chacon 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 Will Varmette 2 1/3 0 1 0 0 3 0 Bernard Jose 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 Sean Barnett 1 0 2 0 2 2 0 Isaiah Lowe 1 3 5 4 2 0 0 Storm Get Obliterated By Giants Left-handed starter Kruz Schoolcraft couldn't make it out of the first inning, setting the tone for the host Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm's 21-2 loss to the San Jose Giants. The Giants put up three four-run innings and an eight-run inning. Schoolcraft, Padres Mission's No. 4 prospect, only got one out while allowing four runs on three hits and three walks with no strikeouts. It was the second time this season Schoolcraft, the Padres' 2025 first-round draft choice, failed to make it out of the first inning. He also only got one out in his second start of the season April 10. The Storm were held without a hit until Jose Verdugo singled with two outs in the fifth and they didn't score until pushing across two runs in the eighth inning to make it a 13-2 game. The Giants then poured it on with an eight-run ninth inning. Jorge Quintana, Padres Mission's No. 7 prospect, had two of the Storm's four hits. LE_0821.mp4 Player AB R H RBI BB K Qrey Lott 4 1 0 0 0 2 Nu'u Contrades 4 1 1 0 0 1 Chris McHugh 2 0 0 1 1 0 Ty Harvey 1 0 0 0 3 1 Jorge Quintana 4 0 2 1 0 0 Joe Tiroly 4 0 0 0 0 2 Truitt Madonna 4 0 0 0 0 2 Jose Verdugo 4 0 1 0 0 0 Dawson Willis 2 0 0 0 2 2 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Kruz Schoolcraft 1/3 3 4 4 3 0 0 Rordy Mejia 3 2/3 8 5 5 0 2 3 Adler Cecil 3 2 4 1 3 6 0 Brandon Langley 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 Jake Bold 2/3 2 7 7 5 0 1 Augie Lopez 1/3 3 1 1 0 0 1 Padres Mission's Top 20 Prospect Performance Ethan Salas: 2-for-3 Ryan Wideman: 0-for-5, 1 K Coleman Borthwick: In Arizona Kruz Schoolcraft: ⅓ IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 0 K Ty Harvey: 0-for-1, 3 BB, 1 K Kale Fountain: Injured, out for season Jorge Quintana: 2-for-4, RBI Alex McCoy: 1-for-4, 2 K Braedon Karpathios: 0-for-4, 2 K Lamar King Jr.: DNP Elliot Lascelles: DNP Tucker Musgrove: DNP Jagger Haynes: DNP Jake Cunningham: DNP Truitt Madonna: 0-for-4, 2 K Eric Yost: DNP Winyer Chourio: DNP Jesus Castro: DNP Michael Salina: DNP Rosman Verdugo: 2-for-5, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 1 K View full article

It is no secret that the San Diego Padres are a bit fortunate to be in the position they are. They entered their weekend series against the Minnesota Twins in the No. 3 position in the NL wild-card chase after many had left the Friars for dead following an eight-game losing streak before the All-Star break. A combination of starting rotation woes and poor offense were to blame for much of that malaise, issues that have been fixed one way or the other to have the Padres contending once again. Of course, injuries have also played a noteworthy role in where the Padres are and fans can dream about where the Friars would be if right-handers Joe Musgrove and Nick Pivetta had not been relegated to a combined four starts so far this season, all by Pivetta. According to a recent article on FanGraphs, the Padres have lost a potential 7.7 fWAR through injuries this year, the 13th-most in MLB ("potential" being a key word there). That is a rather middle-of-the-pack number, which also feels right when you consider which players the Padres have had go on the injured list this season and for how long. Aside from Pivetta (2.3 projected fWAR) and Musgrove (2.0), left fielder Ramon Laureano’s likely season-ending shoulder surgery from early June and second baseman Jake Cronenworth’s seven-week absence due to a concussion are the other most significant ailments. Laureano and Cronenworth had a 2.5 projected fWAR. Another right-handed starter, Lucas Giolito (0.9 fWAR), has missed a significant chunk of time, while right-handed reliever Jason Adam (0.4) has been sidelined since July 2. Three other position players are worth mentioning as well. Catcher Freddy Fermin (1.9) was sidelined twice by injuries, fellow backstop Luis Campusano (0.9) was out for nearly a month, while left fielder Miguel Andujar (0.2) remains out since July 20. (Note that right-handed reliever Bryan Hoeing was not included on the preseason projection as he was ruled out for the season during spring training.) The FanGraphs article noted that the fWAR used to determine the fWAR lost was rerun for this exercise, so the numbers listed here doesn’t necessarily match up, but does give you an idea of their perceived preseason importance. Of the teams that have lost more fWAR than the Friars, yes, the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers are there at 10.1, tied with the Houston Astros for fifth-most. The Boston Red Sox have lost the most potential fWAR at 12.8, while the St. Louis Cardinals have lost the least at 1.9. For the remainder of the season, the Padres are projected to lose 1.9 fWAR. A good piece of this would be Pivetta, followed by Laureano, Andujar and Adam. That total is tied for 15th with the Milwaukee Brewers. The Dodgers, conversely, are projected to lose 1.6 fWAR. Musgrove is likely to be back next week, while Pivetta could soon start a new rehab assignment. Musgrove took four rehab assignments (across 17 days) to get to a good spot and return. Adam, the primary right-handed setup man, remains about a month away from coming back, which could make his availability for the postseason, at least the first series, a bit murky. Andujar is the other key injured player and he just started swinging a bat again. View full article

Thursday saw the San Diego Padres' four full-season affiliates go 2-2. The Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas upended Round Rock 6-5, the Double-A San Antonio Missions walked off Northwest Arkansas 6-5 in 11 innings, the High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps lost to Great Lakes 7-2 and the Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm faltered late vs. San Jose 9-5. Padres Minor-League Transactions None. Clay Dungan, Dustin Harris HRs In Seventh Lift Chihuahuas Clay Dungan hit a go-ahead two-run shot in the seventh inning and Dustin Harris added a two-run homer of his own as the host Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas rallied for a 6-5 victory over the Round Rock Express, snapping a five-game losing streak. Carlos Rodriguez homered and Will Wagner went 3-for-4, while Harris finished with a pair of hits as the Chihuahuas were outhit by the Express 13-10. Chihuahuas right-handed starter Jhony Brito went four innings and gave up two runs on six hits and no walks, striking out one. After right-hander Hunter Stratton struck out three in two scoreless innings, right-hander Hans Crouse gave up a run in one inning and right-hander David Morgan went two innings and picked up his fourth Triple-A save of the year despite allowing two runs in the ninth, including a homer. The Chihuahuas were down 3-2 entering the bottom of the seventh when Nick Pratto had leadoff single and Dungan blasted his two-run homer, his ninth, out to right-center on a 3-2 pitch. After Bryce Johnson walked and a pitching change, Harris went deep to center for his 12 of the year and sixth in 27 games since signing with the Padres, including second game in a row. EP1A_0820.mp4 EP2_0820.mp4 Player AB R H RBI BB K Dustin Harris 4 1 2 2 0 0 Gage Workman 4 0 0 0 0 1 Carlos Rodríguez 3 1 1 1 1 0 Ethan Salas 4 1 1 0 0 0 Will Wagner 4 0 3 1 0 1 Mason McCoy 2 0 0 0 2 1 Nick Pratto 4 1 1 0 0 1 Clay Dungan 4 1 1 2 0 0 Bryce Johnson 2 1 1 0 1 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Jhony Brito 4 6 2 2 0 1 1 Hunter Stratton 2 1 0 0 0 3 0 Hans Crouse 1 2 1 1 2 2 0 David Morgan 2 4 2 2 0 2 1 Alex McCoy Walks It Off As Missions Win In 11 Alex McCoy had his first Double-A walk-off, delivering a bases-loaded single with one out in the 11th to score Jack Costello as the host San Antonio Missions pulled out a 6-5 victory over the Northwest Arkansas Travelers. McCoy, Padres Mission's No. 8 prospect, and Ryan Jackson each had two hits, with Jackson, who had a double, driving in three. One of Jackson's RBIs came on a squeeze bunt that scored Tirso Ornelas in the bottom of the 10th that tied the game 5-5. After holding the Travelers scoreless in the top of the 11th, Costello started as the zombie runner. Justin DeCriscio bunted him to third before intentional walks to Anthony Vilar and Braedon Karpathios (Padres Mission's No. 9 prospect) loaded the bases for McCoy. McCoy then lined a 2-2 pitch over the drawn-in shortstop to left to bring in Costello with the winning run. Missions left-handed starter Jamie Hitt allowed two runs over five innings on four hits and no walks with four strikeouts. Right-hander Josh Mallitz turned in two shutout innings, while right-hander Garrett Hawkins went the final 1⅓ innings striking out three. SA_0820.mp4 Player AB R H RBI BB K Braedon Karpathios 5 1 1 1 1 2 Alex McCoy 6 1 2 1 0 0 Tirso Ornelas 5 1 0 0 0 2 Romeo Sanabria 1 1 0 0 3 0 Kai Roberts 1 0 1 0 0 0 Ryan Jackson 4 0 2 3 0 1 Albert Fabian 4 0 1 0 1 1 Jack Costello 5 1 1 1 0 1 Justin DeCriscio 3 1 1 0 1 2 Brendan Durfee 2 0 0 0 1 2 Luis Verdugo 1 0 0 0 0 0 Anthony Vilar 0 0 0 0 1 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Jamie Hitt 5 4 2 2 0 4 0 Sadrac Franco 2 2 2 2 0 3 1 Josh Mallitz 2 2 0 0 1 1 0 Igor Gil 2/3 0 1 0 0 0 0 Garrett Hawkins 1 1/3 0 0 0 0 3 0 TinCaps Can't Get Going In Loss To Loons A slow start and an inability to capitalize on four errors led to the host High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps to drop a 7-2 decision to the Great Lakes Loons. Rosman Verdugo went 2-for-4 as the TinCaps produced seven hits. Loons shortstop Emil Morales, one of the Los Angeles Dodgers' top prospects, drove in a pair of runs to give him a minors-leading 108 RBIs. TinCaps right-handed starter Carson Montgomery went 5⅓ innings, allowing five runs on five hits with a walk and three punchouts. Right-hander Will Koger gave up a pair of runs in 1⅔ innings, striking out two. Left-hander Braian Salazar went two-thirds without giving up a run and right-hander Nick Falter the final 1⅓ scoreless innings with two strikeouts. The Loons got three runs off Montgomery in the first two innings, then TinCaps pulled within 3-1 in the fifth on Verdugo's fielder's choice grounder that was booted by the third base and brought in Conner Westenburg, who had a leadoff walk. But the Loons broke this one open with a four-run top of the sixth. In the eighth, Bradley Frye doubled home Kasen Wells, who walked to begin the frame, for the TinCaps. FW_0820.mp4 Player AB R H RBI BB K Kasen Wells 4 0 1 0 1 3 Ryan Wideman 5 0 1 0 0 0 Rosman Verdugo 4 0 2 0 0 1 Luke Cantwell 4 0 1 0 1 2 Kerrington Cross 4 1 0 0 1 0 Lamar King Jr. 4 0 1 0 0 0 Carlos Rodriguez 2 0 0 0 2 1 Bradley Frye 4 0 1 1 0 1 Conner Westenburg 3 1 0 0 1 3 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Carson Montgomery 5 1/3 5 5 5 1 3 1 Will Koger 1 2/3 2 2 2 0 2 1 Braian Salazar 2/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 Nick Falter 1 1/3 2 0 0 0 2 0 Jorge Quintana Homers, Elliot Lascelles Reaches 4 Times In Storm Loss Jorge Quintana hit an early three-run homer and second-round draft pick Elliot Lascelles went 2-for-3 with two walks, but a ninth-inning bullpen meltdown led to seven runs as the Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm fell to the San Jose Giants 9-5. Storm right-handed starter Lan-Hong Su struck out five, matching his season high, over four innings, the longest of his 15 games in his debut season. He allowed two runs on four hits with no walks. Su has struck out 13 over his last 9⅔ innings. Right-hander Zack Qin followed with an impressive four hitless innings, walking two and striking out three. They handed a 5-2 lead to right-hander Jordan Valenzuela, who allowed three hits and walked two while giving up six runs and a balk, getting just one out in the ninth. Left-hander Andrew Wright, an undrafted free agent who made his pro debut Tuesday, came on to get the final two outs, giving up a run on two hits and notching a strikeout. Quintana, Padres Mission's No. 7 prospect, cranked his seventh homer of the season in the bottom of the third to put the Storm up 3-2. Lascelles, Padres Mission's No. 11 prospect, continued his hot start to his pro career. He is now 6-for-10 in three games and got his first RBI when he lashed an opposite field single to down the line in left in the fourth. Jesmaylin Arias doubled home a run in the fifth to make it 5-2. LE_0820.mp4 Player AB R H RBI BB K Elliot Lascelles 3 1 2 1 2 0 Jorge Quintana 5 1 1 3 0 2 Chris McHugh 4 0 1 0 1 0 Ty Harvey 5 0 0 0 0 1 Nu'u Contrades 3 1 2 0 1 0 Jesmaylin Arias 4 0 1 1 0 0 Dawson Willis 4 0 0 0 0 1 Augie Lopez 4 0 0 0 0 2 Qrey Lott 1 2 0 0 3 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Lan-Hong Su 4 4 2 2 0 5 0 Zack Qin 4 0 0 0 2 3 0 Jordan Valenzuela 1/3 3 6 6 2 0 0 Andrew Wright 2/3 2 1 1 0 1 0 Padres Mission's Top 20 Prospect Performance Ethan Salas: 1-for-4 Ryan Wideman: 1-for-5 Coleman Borthwick: In Arizona Kruz Schoolcraft: DNP Ty Harvey: 0-for-5, K Kale Fountain: DNP Jorge Quintana: 1-for-5, HR, 3 RBI, 2 K Alex McCoy: 2-for-6, RBI Braedon Karpathios: 1-for-5, 2B, RBI, BB, 2 K Lamar King Jr.: 1-for-4 Elliot Lascelles: 2-for-3, RBI, 2 BB Tucker Musgrove: DNP Jagger Haynes: DNP Jake Cunningham: DNP Truitt Madonna: DNP Eric Yost: DNP Winyer Chourio: DNP Jesus Castro: DNP Michael Salina: DNP Rosman Verdugo: 2-for-4, K View full article

Wednesday saw the four full-season affiliates of the San Diego Padres go 2-2 with the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas thrashed by Round Rock 14-2, the Double-A San Antonio Missions prevailing over Northwest Arkansas 3-2, the High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps hanging on to beat Great Lakes 6-5 and the Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm getting drubbed 11-1. Padres Minor-League Transactions Lake Elsinore Storm activated RHP Michael Salina from the 7-day injured list. Game-Opening HRs Thrown Away As Chihuahuas Pounded Rehabbing Padres left fielder Samad Taylor and Bryce Johnson each homered to lead off the bottom of the first inning, but the host Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas didn't score again and gave four three-run innings in a 14-2 loss to the Round Rock Express. Johnson, the leadoff hitter, went deep on the first pitch he saw, his first homer in 41 Triple-A games going out to left-center. Taylor, in his second game on a rehab assignment, drilled a 1-1 pitch out to right-center for his eighth homer for the Chihuahuas. Taylor was the designated hitter after playing nine innings in left Tuesday. Marcos Castanon and Will Wagner each had two hits for the Chihuahuas, who had seven for the game. Chihuahuas right-handed starter Sean Boyle surrendered six runs on eight hits, including two homers, and two walks with four strikeouts. Right-handers Logan Gillaspie and Jose Leclerc, just promoted to Triple-A as he comes back from shoulder surgery last year, gave up three runs each, with right-hander J.P. France a pair of runs. EP_0819.mp4 EP2_0819.mp4 Player AB R H RBI BB K Bryce Johnson 4 1 1 1 0 0 Samad Taylor 4 1 1 1 0 1 Carlos Rodríguez 4 0 1 0 0 0 Marcos Castañon 4 0 2 0 0 0 Gage Workman 4 0 0 0 0 2 Mason McCoy 4 0 0 0 0 2 Will Wagner 3 0 2 0 0 0 Rodolfo Durán 4 0 0 0 0 1 Blake Hunt 2 0 0 0 1 1 Totals 33 2 7 2 1 7 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Sean Boyle 4 2/3 8 6 6 2 4 2 Logan Gillaspie 2 1/3 4 3 3 0 2 1 José Leclerc 1 5 3 3 0 1 0 J.P. France 1 3 2 2 1 0 0 Totals 9 20 14 14 3 7 3 Eric Yost's Big Relief Outing, Albert Fabian's 3 Hits Lift Missions Albert Fabian went 3-for-5, including driving in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning, and right-hander Eric Yost threw 6⅓ scoreless innings of relief as the host Double-A San Antonio Missions came away with a 3-2 victory over the Northwest Arkansas Travelers. Fabian doubled and scored a run, while Romeo Sanabria went 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI. Missions left-handed starter Luis Gutierrez gave up two runs on four hits and a walk with three punchouts over 2⅔ innings. Yost, Padres Mission's No. 16 prospect who has five six-inning starts, finished with a season-high 6⅓ innings. He allowed four hits and struck out six. Trailing 1-0, Anthony Vilar squeezed home Justin DeCriscio, who was in his second Double-A game after a promotion before the series. The Travelers regained the lead in the top of the third, then Sanabria singled home Fabian with one out in the fifth to tie the game. Kai Roberts drew a one-out walk and stole second, his 35th, in the sixth. Fabian lined a 1-2 pitch to left and Robert scampered home to put the Missions up 3-2. SA1_0819.mp4 Player AB R H RBI BB K Albert Fabian 5 1 3 1 0 0 Alex McCoy 4 0 1 0 1 1 Tirso Ornelas 4 0 0 0 0 3 Romeo Sanabria 3 0 2 1 1 0 Luis Verdugo 4 0 0 0 0 1 Justin DeCriscio 3 1 1 0 1 0 Wyatt Hoffman 2 0 1 0 2 1 Anthony Vilar 3 0 0 1 0 1 Kai Roberts 3 1 0 0 1 2 Totals 31 3 8 3 6 9 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Luis Gutierrez 2 2/3 4 2 2 1 3 0 Eric Yost 6 1/3 4 0 0 0 6 0 Totals 9 8 2 2 1 9 0 Kerrington Cross' 4-Hit Day Lifts TinCaps To Victory After trading five-run innings, the host High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps came out on top as Kerrington Cross capped a 4-for-4 day with a go-ahead RBI single in the bottom of the seventh for a 6-5 victory over the Great Lakes Loons. It was the third straight win for the TinCaps following an eight-game losing streak. Cross, who also scored a run and stole a base, had his first career four-hit game, while Conner Westenburg had two hits (including a triple), two RBIs and a run scored. TinCaps right-handed starter Winyer Chourio pitched three shutout innings, allowing three hits and three walks with three strikeouts. Right-hander Carlos Medina gave up all five runs in the first of his three innings, while right-hander Jeferson Villabona earned his first High-A victory with three shutout innings himself. Cross started the five-run second with a single, then stole second and went to third on an errant pickoff attempt by the pitch. Lamar King Jr., Padres Mission's No. 10 prospect, walked and stole second, his 16th theft of the year, before Yoiber Ocopio singled home Cross. Yimy Tovar, just promoted from Low-A Lake Elsinore the day before and playing in his first game, grounded an RBI single to left that brought in King. After a sacrifice bunt by Dylan Grego, Westenberg tripled in Ocopio and Tovar, then scored on Kasen Wells' groundout to complete the five-run outburst. In the seventh, Bradley Frye had a leadoff walk and went to third on fourth-round draft pick Robbie Lavey's single to right. Cross then laced an 0-2 pitch to right field, easily scoring Frye with the decisive run. All the runs were driven in by players who started the season at Lake Elsinore. FW_0819.mp4 Player AB R H RBI BB K Kasen Wells 4 0 1 1 0 1 Bradley Frye 3 1 0 0 1 0 Robbie Lavey 4 0 1 0 0 2 Kerrington Cross 4 1 4 1 0 0 Lamar King Jr. 2 1 0 0 1 1 Yoiber Ocopio 3 1 1 1 0 0 Yimy Tovar 4 1 1 1 0 0 Dylan Grego 3 0 0 0 0 2 Conner Westenburg 4 1 2 2 0 0 Totals 31 6 10 6 2 6 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Winyer Chourio 3 3 0 0 3 3 0 Carlos Medina 3 3 5 5 2 0 1 Jeferson Villabona 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 9 8 5 5 5 3 1 Storm Held To 2 Hits, Get Thumped By Giants The host Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm managed just two hits while giving up a couple of big innings early en route to an 11-1 loss to the San Jose Giants. Second-round draft pick Elliot Lascelles, Padres Mission's No. 11 prospect who went 3-for-4 in his pro debut Tuesday, had one of the two Storm hits. Jesmaylin Arias broke up the Giants' perfect game with a two-out double that deflected off the pitcher. Lascelles had the other hit, a double leading off the seventh. He has a double and a triple among his first four pro hits. Storm right-handed starter Cameron Nohos was tagged for eight runs on nine hits, including three homers, and two walks while striking out six in 3⅓ innings. Right-hander Michael Salina, Padres Mission's No. 19 prospect who was activated off the seven-day injured list before the game after having his elbow checked out following his Aug. 6 appearance, allowed two runs in one inning on two hits and a walk with a strikeout. Salina, the Padres' 2025 fourth-round draft choice, had Tommy John surgery last year and has had a start-and-stop recovery. Player AB R H RBI BB K Dawson Willis 3 0 0 0 1 3 Elliot Lascelles 3 0 1 0 1 1 Nu'u Contrades 4 0 0 0 0 1 Jorge Quintana 4 0 0 0 0 2 Jose Verdugo 3 0 0 0 0 1 Jake Bold 0 0 0 0 1 0 Jesmaylin Arias 3 1 1 0 1 1 Truitt Madonna 3 0 0 0 1 2 Augie Lopez 3 0 0 0 0 2 Qrey Lott 3 0 0 0 0 1 Totals 29 1 2 0 5 14 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Cameron Nohos 3 1/3 9 8 8 2 6 3 Florangel Vasquez 2 2/3 3 1 1 0 0 0 Michael Salina 1 2 2 2 1 1 0 Ryan Reed 2 1 0 0 2 3 0 Totals 9 15 11 11 5 10 3 Padres Mission's Top 20 Prospect Performance Ethan Salas, C: DNP Ryan Wideman, CF: DNP Coleman Borthwick, RHP: In Arizona Kruz Schoolcraft, LHP: DNP Ty Harvey, C: DNP Kale Fountain, OF: Injured, out for season Jorge Quintana, SS: 0-for-4, 2 K Alex McCoy, LF: 1-for-4, BB, K Braedon Karpathios, RF: DNP Lamar King Jr., C: 0-for-2, BB, R, K Elliot Lascelles, SS: 1-for-3, 2B, BB, K Tucker Musgrove, RHP: DNP Jagger Haynes, LHP: DNP Jake Cunningham, OF: DNP Truitt Madonna, C: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K Eric Yost, RHP: 6⅓ IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K Winyer Chourio, RHP: 3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 3 K Jesus Castro, RHP: DNP Michael Salina, RHP: 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 K Rosman Verdugo, SS: DNP View full article

There has been a lot of chatter over the last week about the possibility of Ethan Salas being called up by the San Diego Padres to make his MLB debut this season as the team makes a push for the postseason and then hopefully a lengthy run toward a third World Series appearance. But there was a recent article in The Athletic that wasn't particularly clear on how that could happen, which has caused a little extra buzz from Friars fans. As it stands right now, the tandem of Luis Campusano and Freddy Fermin are playing well, but both are also right-handed bats, whereas Salas, Padres Mission's No. 1 prospect, is a left-handed hitter and has been lighting it up in the three weeks since being promoted to the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas. The Padres realistically have four choices to make regarding the 20-year-old catcher. Let's take a look at those possibilities: Call Ethan Salas Up Before Sept. 1 This is the cleanest path for Salas making an impact down the stretch and into the postseason. He would be added to the 40-man roster before rosters expand in September, so no special permission would be needed. The Padres were recently carrying three catchers until infielder Gage Workman, acquired from the Detroit Tigers at the trade deadline along with right-handed starter Casey Mize, was added to the major-league roster. Workman has since been replaced by outfielder Austin Hays. Salas could be added to the 26-man roster in place of outfielder Jase Bowen, whose role has lessened with Hays' presence, and to the 40-man by transferring right-hander Lucas Giolito to the 60-day injured list in a paperwork move (he has been out almost 60 days already). This would be the same process for any player claimed off waivers or signed and added to the roster before the end of August, like Hays. Call Ethan Salas Up Before The End Of The Regular Season No longer can you call up a slew of prospects when the calendar flips to September. That is now limited to two players, no more than one being a pitcher. So Salas can come up without knocking anyone off the MLB roster and with the same move with Giolito. With the call-up coming in September, the Commissioner's Office would need to sign off on Salas being on the postseason roster, but that is a rubber-stamp process since he was in the organization before Sept. 1. One big example of this is right-handed reliever Francisco Rodriguez, who made his MLB debut for the Anaheim Angels on Sept. 18, 2002, and appeared in five regular-season games, then being a key member of the bullpen as the team won the World Series that year (before being called Los Angeles). This would also allow Salas to complete the regular season with the Chihuahuas, which runs through Sept. 20, a week before the MLB regular season concludes. If the Padres don't need him before then, this could be their best option. Call Ethan Salas Up Before The Postseason Begins There are two instances of this happening in recent years that come to mind. Just last year, Cleveland Guardians center fielder Chase DeLauter made his MLB debut by starting Games 2 and 3 of the AL Wild Card Series. The other came in 2015, when Kansas City Royals shortstop Adalberto Mondesi made his MLB debut in the World Series, pinch-hitting in the fifth inning of Game 3 (it would be his only appearance of the series). Both were added to the MLB roster and 40-man roster before those series began. While Salas will not have faced MLB pitching before, this path could also be good, as he will have had regular at-bats at Triple-A, then a week off before being put on the postseason roster (likely being on the taxi squad the final week and around the team). Don't Call Ethan Salas Up Until 2027 I know, this is the least fun option. But this could also be beneficial for Salas. While any postseason experience would be tremendous to get his career off the ground, the downside would have to do with the owners promising to lock out the players on Dec. 1. If added to the Padres' roster, Salas would be just like any other MLB player and not able to use the Padres' facilities during the lockout or have any contact with the team. But if Salas is not added to the major-league roster this season, he would be just like the rest of the minor-league players. The minor-league collective bargaining agreement doesn't expire until next year, so for all players not on 40-man rosters, this will be like any other offseason. They'll then report to spring training as usual (albeit strange with no MLB players around). Salas should have a normal offseason after coming off a stress reaction in his lower back wiped out most all of his 2025 and would be able to ramp up for a 2027 season in which he most likely would be the Opening Day catcher, whenever that day actually comes. View full article

The San Diego Padres' four full-season affiliates began a new set of series Tuesday by going 3-2, which included the conclusion of a suspended game. The Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas were edged by Round Rock 5-3, the Double-A El Paso Chihuahuas walked off Northwest Arkansas 6-5, the High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps won twice over Great Lakes, 6-5 in the completion of a suspended game and 7-4, then the Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm fell 9-2. Padres Minor-League Transactions LHP Andrew Wright assigned to Lake Elsinore Storm from ACL Padres. SS Elliot Lascelles assigned to Lake Elsinore Storm from ACL Padres. LHP Joseph Herrera assigned to ACL Padres from Lake Elsinore Storm. RHP Maikel Miralles assigned to ACL Padres from Fort Wayne TinCaps. RHP Johan Moreno assigned to San Antonio Missions from El Paso Chihuahuas. RHP Jose Leclerc assigned to El Paso Chihuahuas from San Antonio Missions. OF Kai Murphy assigned to El Paso Chihuahuas from San Antonio Missions. RHP Bernard Jose assigned to Fort Wayne TinCaps from San Antonio Missions. SS Justin DeCriscio assigned to San Antonio Missions from Fort Wayne TinCaps. RHP Matthew Watson assigned to Fort Wayne TinCaps from San Antonio Missions. IF Yimy Tovar assigned to Fort Wayne TinCaps from Lake Elsinore Storm. RHP Victor Lizarraga assigned to San Antonio Missions from Lake Elsinore Storm. San Antonio Missions transferred C Oswaldo Linares to the Development List. San Antonio Missions activated LHP Luis Gutierrez from the 60-day injured list. Early Blow Too Much For Chihuahuas To Handle Left-handed starter Jagger Haynes gave up an early three-spot but was otherwise solid as the host Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas fell to the Round Rock Express 5-3. Rehabbing Padres outfielder Samad Taylor went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts in his first rehab game after two weeks of workouts in Arizona. Taylor, who is coming back from a right oblique strain, played the entire game in left field, possibly indicating a short stay with the Chihuahuas. Dustin Harris went 2-for-3 with a homer, a steal and two RBIs out of the leadoff spot against the team he played the last 2½ seasons for and Marcos Castanon went 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Chihuahuas, who were held to five hits. That combo produced the first run of the game as Harris singled and, two outs later, Castanon doubled. Harris then belted his fifth homer since joining the Chihuahuas as a free agent and 11th of the season, a two-run shot, in the bottom of the fifth. Ethan Salas, Padres Mission's No. 1 prospect, went 0-for-4, ending his streak of reaching base in every game since being promoted from Double-A San Antonio at 14 games. Haynes, Padres Mission's No. 13 prospect, went five innings, giving up five runs (four earned) on seven hits and two walks with a pair of strikeouts. Right-handers Daison Acosta (1⅔ innings), Alek Jacob (1⅓ innings) and Ethan Routzahn (one inning) combined for four scoreless innings. EP_0818.mp4 Player AB R H RBI BB K Dustin Harris 3 2 2 2 0 0 Samad Taylor 3 0 0 0 1 2 Nick Solak 4 0 0 0 0 1 Marcos Castañon 4 0 2 1 0 2 Ethan Salas 4 0 0 0 0 1 Mason McCoy 4 0 0 0 0 1 Will Wagner 4 0 0 0 0 2 Rodolfo Durán 3 0 1 0 0 0 Nick Pratto 3 1 0 0 0 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Jagger Haynes 5 7 5 4 2 2 0 Daison Acosta 1 2/3 1 0 0 0 2 0 Alek Jacob 1 1/3 1 0 0 0 1 0 Ethan Routzahn 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 Romeo Sanabria Caps 4-Run Ninth With Walk-Off For Missions Alex McCoy had a two-run single and scored the winning run on Romeo Sanabria's walk-off single in a four-run bottom of the ninth as the host Double-A San Antonio Missions stunned the Northwest Arkansas Travelers 6-5. Tirso Ornelas had a game-tying single before Sanabria's hit as all four runs in the ninth came with two outs. The Missions were down to their final strike before McCoy and Ornelas got their hits and Sanabria's came on a 2-2 pitch just like the other two previous singles. Albert Fabian went 4-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, while Ornelas was 3-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored, McCoy (Padres Mission's No. 8 prospect) two hits and two runs scored and Sanabria two hits. Missions left-handed starter Fernando Sanchez gave up four runs over five innings with five strikeouts, but right-hander Garrett Hawkins (one inning), left-hander Harry Gustin (one inning), right-hander Johan Moreno (1⅓ innings) and right-hander Francis Pena (two-thirds of an inning) allowed just one run and three hits over the final four frames. The Travelers jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second, then the Missions clawed back two in the sixth on an Ornelas RBI double and Fabian run-scoring single before Northwest Arkansas went up 5-2 in the seventh. In the bottom of the ninth, Fabian had a leadoff double and went to third on Luis Verdugo's single. After a pair of strikes, Verdugo took second on defensive indifference. Braedon Karpathios, Padres Mission's No. 9 prospect, walked to load the bases when McCoy grounded his two-run single to left field to pull the Missions within 5-4. After a pitching change, Ornelas lined a single to right, scoring pinch-runner Kai Roberts from second and beating the throw home, which advanced McCoy to third and Ornelas to second. SA1_0818.mp4 SA2_0818.mp4 SA3_0818.mp4 Player AB R H RBI BB K Braedon Karpathios 4 0 0 0 1 3 Kai Roberts 0 1 0 0 0 0 Alex McCoy 5 2 2 2 0 0 Tirso Ornelas 5 1 3 2 0 1 Romeo Sanabria 5 0 2 1 0 1 Ryan Jackson 4 0 0 0 0 1 Albert Fabian 4 1 4 1 0 0 Luis Verdugo 2 1 1 0 2 0 Justin DeCriscio 4 0 1 0 0 1 Brendan Durfee 4 0 0 0 0 3 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Fernando Sanchez 5 6 4 4 2 5 1 Garrett Hawkins 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 Harry Gustin 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 Johan Moreno 1 1/3 0 0 0 1 3 0 Francis Peña 2/3 0 0 0 1 0 0 Rosman Verdugo Helps TinCaps Finished Delayed Sweep The High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps improved their home and road record on the same day in sweeping a doubleheader from the Great Lakes Loons 6-5 and 7-4, snapping a season-worst eight-game losing streak. Thanks to a rainout nearly three weeks ago, the TinCaps were actually the visitor in the first game, the resumption of an Aug. 2 suspended game, to begin what is now a seven-game series in Fort Wayne. In the game that was suspended in the top of the fifth inning, Jack Costello, who was promoted to Double-A San Antonio a few days after this game started, had a two-run double in a three-run third inning as the TinCaps took a 4-1 lead. They added two more in the top of the fourth in a game that was started by right-hander Miguel Mendez, who was traded to the San Francisco Giants the day after this game started. In the regularly scheduled game, Rosman Verdugo had a two-run double in the first inning and finished with three RBIs. Kasen Wells went 2-for-3 with a walk, two RBIs and three runs scored out of the leadoff spot, while Bradley Frye went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored from the No. 2 slot. With Verdugo batting third, the top three in the TinCaps' lineup went 8-for-11 with seven RBIs and four runs scored. Kerrington Cross went 2-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored. It was Frye's first three-hit game in his 10 games with the TinCaps after being promoted from Low-A Lake Elsinore. TinCaps right-handed starter Kannon Kemp had the best of his 10 appearances since coming back from a left oblique injury in spring training. Kemp went four innings and allowed one run on six hits with no walks and a season-high six strikeouts. After right-hander Sean Barnett gave up three runs in 1⅓ innings while fanning four, right-hander Bernard Jose returned to Fort Wayne for his third stint this season with 1⅔ scoreless innings, allowing just a hit and his first High-A save and third of the season. He has also pitched at Double-A San Antonio and the Arizona Complex League this year. FW_0818.mp4 COMPLETION OF SUSPENDED GAME Player AB R H RBI BB K Justin DeCriscio 2 0 0 1 0 1 Bradley Frye 1 0 0 0 1 0 Ryan Wideman 3 0 0 0 0 2 Conner Westenburg 1 0 0 0 1 0 Alex McCoy 1 1 0 0 1 0 Dylan Grego 1 0 0 0 0 0 Luke Cantwell 3 1 1 1 1 1 Rosman Verdugo 4 1 2 0 0 2 Kerrington Cross 1 2 0 0 1 0 Jack Costello 1 1 1 2 1 0 Lamar King Jr. 2 0 0 0 0 1 Oswaldo Linares 1 0 1 1 1 0 Carlos Rodriguez 1 0 0 0 1 1 Kasen Wells 2 0 0 0 1 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Miguel Mendez 1 3 1 1 0 1 0 Carlos Medina 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 Javier Chacon 1 1 1 1 3 1 0 Isaiah Lowe 2 2/3 2 3 3 1 3 1 Will Varmette 1/3 1 0 0 0 0 0 REGULARLY SCHEDULED GAME Player AB R H RBI BB K Kasen Wells 3 3 2 2 1 0 Bradley Frye 4 1 3 2 0 0 Rosman Verdugo 4 0 2 3 0 2 Luke Cantwell 3 0 0 0 0 3 Robbie Lavey 3 0 0 0 0 2 Lamar King Jr. 3 0 0 0 0 1 Kerrington Cross 2 2 2 0 1 0 Dylan Grego 2 1 0 0 1 2 Conner Westenburg 2 0 0 0 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Kannon Kemp 4 6 1 1 0 6 0 Sean Barnett 1 1/3 3 3 3 0 4 1 Bernard Jose 1 2/3 1 0 0 0 0 0 Second-Rounder Elliot Lascelles Has 3 Hits For Storm In Debut Second-round draft choice Elliot Lascelles went 3-for-4 with a run scored in his pro debut, but that was the biggest highlight as the host Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm dropped a 9-2 decision to the San Jose Giants in a battle of the California League's two first-half division champions. Lascelles, Padres Mission's No. 11 prospect who was a high school shortstop out of Toronto and batted fifth, had a leadoff single on a 1-1 pitch against Giants right-hander Trey Seeley for his first pro hit. He then had his first stolen base. Lascelles singled leading off the fourth inning and tripled with one out in the sixth and scored on a wild pitch before grounding out to second to end the eighth inning. Chris McHugh, an 11th-round pick, and Dawson Willis each had two hits for the Storm. Storm right-handed starter Jesus Castro gave up five runs over four innings. Player AB R H RBI BB K Dawson Willis 4 1 2 0 0 0 Alex Conover 4 0 1 1 0 1 Chris McHugh 4 0 2 0 0 1 Ty Harvey 4 0 0 0 0 1 Elliot Lascelles 4 1 3 0 0 0 Jorge Quintana 4 0 1 0 0 1 Joe Tiroly 2 0 0 0 1 0 Truitt Madonna 2 0 0 0 2 2 Qrey Lott 4 0 0 0 0 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Jesus A. Castro 4 4 5 5 3 2 1 Brandon Langley 2 4 2 2 0 4 0 Yoesmerli Beltre 2 3 2 2 0 1 1 Andrew Wright 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 Padres Mission's Top 20 Prospect Performance Ethan Salas: 0-for-4, K Ryan Wideman: 0-for-3, 2 K Coleman Borthwick: In Arizona Kruz Schoolcraft: DNP Ty Harvey: 0-for-4, K Kale Fountain: Injured, out for season Jorge Quintana: 1-for-4, K Alex McCoy: 2-for-5, 2 RBI, 2 R (San Antonio); 0-for-1, BB, R (Fort Wayne, Game 1) Braedon Karpathios: 0-for-4, BB, 3 K Lamar King Jr.: 0-for-2, K (Game 1); 0-for-3, K (Game 2) Elliot Lascelles: 3-for-4, 3B, R Tucker Musgrove: DNP Jagger Haynes: 5 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K Jake Cunningham: DNP Truitt Madonna: 0-for-2, 2 BB, 2 K Eric Yost: DNP Winyer Chourio: DNP Jesus Castro: 4 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 2 K Michael Salina: On injured list Rosman Verdugo: 2-for-4, R, 2 K (Game 1); 2-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 K (Game 2) View full article