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  • Minor League Notes

    Notes about the team are posted here.

    4 rumors in this category

      Steve Drumwright

       

      Infielder Jose Miranda, considered a long shot to make the San Diego Padres' Opening Day roster, was released by the team Tuesday. Miranda had a June 1 opt-out in his contract, per the San Diego Union-Tribune.

      The 27-year-old Miranda had been with the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas this season and had produced a .268/.308/.482 slash line with five homers and 26 RBIs in 28 games. The move was not that all surprising as there was no room for Miranda on the Padres' roster.

      First baseman Ty France earned the last bench spot in spring training and the Padres have not used infielder Sung-Mun Song, signed to a four-year, $15 million contract in the offseason, much since he was called up to replace second baseman Jake Cronenworth, who is on the seven-day concussion list.

      At Triple-A, he mainly played first base, starting there 15 of the 16 games he played there. Miranda only played five games at third base, his primary position when he was with the Minnesota Twins.

      Miranda had a solid spring training with a .304/.385/.522 slash line, a pair of homers and nine RBIs in 22 games.

       

      Steve Drumwright

      If you like prospects, more specifically San Diego Padres prospects, Lake Elsinore will be the place to be this summer.

      The Storm, a member of the Low-A California League, will sport seven of Padres Mission's top 20 prospects to begin the season. Lake Elsinore begins its season Thursday against the Ontario Tower Buzzers, a Los Angeles Dodgers affiliate. Three of the Padres' four farm teams opened against Dodgers affiliates. Ontario is a new entry in the Cal League after the Modesto Nuts moved to San Bernardino and set off an affiliate shuffle.

      Left-hander Kruz Schoolcraft leads the Storm's prospect parade. He was the Padres' first-round draft choice last year. Outfielder Ryan Wideman, at No. 9, and corner infielder Kale Fountain, at No. 10, are other top-10 prospects on the Lake Elsinore active roster.

      Of note, two-way player Sean Barnett's transaction page shows him being assigned to the Storm, but he does not appear on the roster. Ethan Long, a 2023 undrafted free agent, had previously been a first baseman, but is listed on the roster as a right-handed pitcher.

      Pitcher (14)

      • Bryan Balzer, RHP
      • Javier Chacon, LHP
      • Winyer Chourio, RHP
      • Nick Falter, RHP
      • Joseph Herrera, LHP
      • Jamie Hitt, LHP
      • Landry Jurecka, RHP
      • Brandon Langley, RHP
      • Ethan Long, RHP
      • Carlos Medina, RHP
      • Rordy Mejia, RHP
      • Daichi Moriki, RHP
      • Tyler Schmitt, RHP
      • Kruz Schoolcraft, LHP (Padres Mission's No. 3 prospect)

      Catcher (2)

      Infield (8)

      • Luke Cantwell
      • Kerrington Cross
      • Justin DeCriscio
      • Victor Duarte
      • Kale Fountain (No. 10 prospect)
      • Bradley Frye
      • Jorge Quintana (No. 12 prospect)
      • Jose Verdugo

      Outfield (3)

      Other (3)

      • RHP Humberto Cruz, restricted list (No. 6 prospect)
      • LHP Matt Lachappa, 60-day injured list
      • RHP Mario Zabala, 60-day injured list
      Steve Drumwright

       

      The dream of pitching in MLB is on hold, if not over, for San Diego Padres pitching prospect Humberto Cruz.

      The 19-year-old right-hander pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge related to transporting undocumented immigrants within the U.S. for money, according to a report Friday by the San Diego Union-Tribune. That report said the Padres believe Cruz has lost his work visa for 10 years, although he can reapply after five years by showing good behavior.

      Cruz is Padres Mission's No. 6 prospect.

      Cruz was arrested near the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona in October after picking up a two individuals in exchange for money, $1,000 each. He had been working out at the team's complex in Peoria, Ariz., after having Tommy John surgery in late August. Cruz was signed out of Mexico in February 2024. The Padres placed Cruz on the restricted list in March.

      He was originally charged with a felony, but Cruz agreed to plead guilty in exchange for the more serious charge being dropped. In November, a judge sentenced him to 30 days in prison with credit for time served.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      Kale Fountain's season is over less than a month after it began.

      Fountain, the San Diego Padres' fifth-round draft choice in 2024, was scheduled to undergo season-ending surgery Tuesday after a left shoulder subluxation, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. The 20-year-old Fountain, Padres Mission's No. 10 prospect, was playing right field last week Tuesday for the Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm when he collided with a wall. He went on the seven-day injured list last week and was transferred to the 60-day IL Monday.

      It is the second major surgery for Fountain. He had Tommy John surgery after the 2024 season after not appearing in any games following the draft. He was drafted as a corner infielder after setting the Nebraska high school career home run record.

      Fountain played in 65 games in 2025, but only 37 of those in the field as he recovered from Tommy John surgery. The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder played first base in all of those games with four appearances at third base during those 37 games. This season, he was exclusively a right fielder in the 13 games he played in.

      Offensively, Fountain was off to a slow start with a .182/.286/.327 slash line, hitting a pair of homers with seven RBIs and four steals in seven attempts. Last year, he had a .226/.346/.309 slash line with three homers, 34 RBIs and 21 steals in 22 attempts.

       

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