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    Notes about the team are posted here.

    24 rumors in this category

      Steve Drumwright

       

      While the San Diego Padres are still in the middle of trying to win a World Series, they are also looking ahead to next season.

      Right-handed reliever Roel Ramirez signed a minor-league contract with the Padres on Thursday and was assigned to Triple-A El Paso.

      The 31-year-old has had two appearances in MLB, once in 2020 and another in 2021, both with the St. Louis Cardinals. Most recently, he was pitching for the Toros de Tijuana in the Mexican Baseball League. This past season, Ramirez had a 1.76 ERA and a 0.891 WHIP with nine walks and 63 strikeouts in 46 innings over 47 games. He also pitched in the World Baseball Classic for Mexico, appearing in two games for 2⅓ innings, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out three.

      Born in Laredo, Texas, Ramirez was drafted in the eighth round by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2013. In 10 minor-league seasons, he posted a 4.28 ERA. He was last in affiliated ball in 2023 with Atlanta.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      With the Triple-A regular season concluding this week, most of the San Diego Padres' minor-league players are done with competitive games for 2026.

      Except for a select few who were picked to represent the Padres in the Arizona Fall League.

      Led by catcher Ty Harvey, Padres Mission's No. 5 prospect, eight Padres prospects will be in the annual MLB showcase. The Arizona Fall League is considered a finishing school for many prospects, but also provides an opportunity for key players who had their season disrupted by injury to get high-quality appearances.

      Other players selected are outfielder Alex McCoy (Padres Mission's No. 8 prospect), right-handed starter Winyer Chourio (Padres Mission's No. 17), infielder Justin DeCriscio, left-hander Igor Gil and right-handers Kannon Kemp, Francis Pena and Jordan Valenzuela. All of the Padres' prospects will play for the Peoria Javelinas. Peoria is where the Padres have their spring training and minor-league headquarters.

      Harvey fits the bill of a player whose season was disjointed due to injury. The 20-year-old had a quad injury that cost him three weeks early in the season (April 14-May 12), then had his left hand broken as it was hit by a batter on a catcher's interference play two weeks later that sidelined him until late July. Harvey is an offensive force who is a work in progress behind the plate. Those injuries limited him to 46 games at Low-A Lake Elsinore, where he slashed .218/.310/.329 with three homers and 28 RBIs while also stealing nine bases. This was Harvey's first full season in the pros after being a fifth-round pick by the Padres last year out of Inspiration Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

      McCoy earned this honor through his performance on the first. An undrafted free agent who was signed in 2025, McCoy rocketed from relative unknown up to No. 8 on our prospect list with his production at High-A Fort Wayne and Double-A San Antonio. The 24-year-old had a combined .278/.355/.467 slash line with 19 homers, 71 RBIs and 24 stolen bases. His 19 homers tied for the system lead with Jake Cunningham and his 31 doubles were second to Tirso Ornelas (33).

      Chourio started the season strong at Low-A Lake Elsinore, earning him a midseason promotion. He had his struggles in the second half with the TinCaps. He finished the year with a 4.56 ERA and 122 strikeouts (29.9% strikeout rate), which led the system, in 92⅔ innings, while walking 57 (14% walk rate) and limiting opponents to a .229 batting average.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The Lake Elsinore Storm are looking to add another California League championship to their trophy case.

      The Storm host the San Jose Giants on Sunday at 4:35 p.m. at The Diamond in Game 1 of the best-of-three Cal League Championship Series. Game 2 will be in San Jose on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., while Game 3, if necessary, is Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

      Right-hander Tyler Schmitt will start for the Storm. The 22-year-old has a 4.76 ERA with a 12.7% walk rate and 24.4% strikeout rate in 23 games. He finished with 106 strikeouts. He did not pitch in the South Division Series.

      The Storm won the first-half South Division title, then finished last in the second half. Still, they swept the Ontario Tower Buzzers, a Los Angeles Dodgers affiliate who won the second half. The Giants present a much bigger task. San Jose won both halves of the North Division and then swept the Stockton Ports in the Division Series. The Storm and Giants also met a few weeks ago, with the Giants winning all six games of the series as part of a 20-2 finish to the regular season.

      The Storm last won the Cal League title in 2022 and lost in the Championship Series in 2024 to the Modesto Nuts. The Giants are in the postseason for the seventh straight season and are led by the San Francisco Giants' No. 1 prospect, shortstop Josuar Gonzalez. He slashed .357/.444/.566 with three homers, 35 RBIs and 13 steals in 31 games with San Jose. The Giants led the Cal League in runs scored this season.

      The Storm offense had a good Division Series with a 10-9 victory in Game 1 and 6-1 triumph in the clincher. Sixth-round draft pick Nu'u Contrades went 5-for-7 with a double and two RBIs, while fourth-rounder Alex Conover went 5-for-8 with two doubles and three RBIs. The Game 2 starter for the Storm is likely to be right-hander Jesus Castro, who turned in a strong performance in Game 1 of the Division Series.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      It was most certainly a tale of two seasons for the Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm. Now, those two collide with a California League championship at stake.

      The Storm begin the best-of-three Division Series in the California League playoffs Tuesday when they travel to play the Ontario Tower Buzzers in Game 1 at 6:35 p.m. Game 2 is Thursday at Lake Elsinore at 6:05 p.m., with a potential Game 3 on Friday at 6:45 p.m.

      The Storm won the first-half South Division title by going 39-27. The Tower Buzzers, a Los Angeles Dodgers affiliate, won the second half at 38-28 after going 33-33 and finishing third in the division in the first half. The Storm finished last in the four-team division in the second half at 27-38.

      Right-hander Jesus Castro (Padres Mission's No. 18 prospect) will start for the Storm in Game 1. In 22 games and 20 starts, the 19-year-old has a 4.18 ERA with 31 walks and 100 strikeouts in 90⅓ innings.

      While many of the names have changed for the Storm due to a slew of midseason promotions, one thing hasn't: Lake Elsinore likes to steal bases. The Storm have stolen 357 bases in 131 games, an average of 2.73 per game. They have also been caught 87 times. The 357 steals comes up a bit shy of the all-time minor-league and Cal League record of 372, set by the San Jose Bees in 1974.

      Outfielder Conner Westenberg leads the Storm with 45 in 94 games, squeaking past Ryan Wideman, Padres Mission's No. 2 prospect who had 43 in 65 games before being promoted to High-A Fort Wayne midseason. The Storm also feature a handful of this summer's draft picks. That group is led by second-round shortstop Elliot Lascelles and also includes fourth-round compensation-pick outfielder Alex Conover, fifth-round right-hander James Guyette, sixth-round infielder Nu'u Contrades, seventh-round infielder Joe Tiroly, eighth-round left-hander Sean Fitzpatrick, 10th-round catcher Augie Lopez, 11th-round first baseman-outfielder Chris McHugh and 12th-round left-hander Rob Evans.

      In the North Division, the first-half champ San Jose Giants square off with the Stockton Ports. The Giants actually won both halves, but the Ports were selected as the second-half representative by virtue of finishing second in the second half.

      Steve Drumwright

       

       

      With the regular season winding down in the minors, there is still some roster juggling going on by the San Diego Padres' affiliates despite none of the teams affected playing in the postseason.

      The two biggest moves involve the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas, who are getting Padres designated hitter Miguel Andujar on a rehab assignment as well as right fielder Braedon Karpathios (Padres Mission's No. 9 prospect). Karpathios was promoted from the Double-A San Antonio Missions after driving in 13 runs last week.

      Other moves are left-handed starter Luis Gutierrez and catcher Anthony Vilar going up from San Antonio to El Paso, with third baseman Kerrington Cross, right-handed starter Carson Montgomery and right-handed reliever moving from the High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps to Double-A San Antonio.

      Andujar is making his way back from a fractured right wrist he sustained July 19.

      Double-A San Antonio is beginning its final week of the season on the road against the Amarillo Sod Poodles, while Triple-A El Paso has two weeks remaining, this week on the road vs. the Tacoma Rainiers and then finishing at home by facing the Oklahoma City Comets.

      High-A Fort Wayne completed its season Sunday, while the Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm begin the best-of-three California League semifinals Tuesday against the Ontario Tower Buzzers on the road.

      The Padres also signed right-handed reliever Trevor Gott to a minor-league contract. He is expected to go to Triple-A.

       

       

      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.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      Oswaldo Pirela, the San Diego Padres' minor-league catching coordinator, was taken into custody Sunday in El Paso, Texas, by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The San Diego Union-Tribune and The Athletic each confirmed Piera's plight with members of his family. Pirela has a hearing scheduled for next week, the Union-Tribune said.

      Pirela is Venezuelan with an ongoing asylum case. He has been in the U.S. since 2014 and family members said he has an active work permit. Pirela's brother told The Athletic that Pirela was not carrying his work permit card at the time.

      The Padres issued a statement Monday: “We recently became aware of the detainment of minor league catching coordinator Oswaldo Pirela in El Paso, Texas. We are working to gather additional information and will not have any further comment at this time.”

      The Athletic received a statement from Homeland Security on Tuesday: “On August 16, 2026, Border Patrol arrested Oswaldo Jose Pirela Dominguez, an illegal alien from Venezuela, at the El Paso International Airport. He entered the country legally on September 10, 2014, and was granted permission by the Obama administration to remain in the country until February 10, 2018. In violation of our nation’s laws, he overstayed his welcome. When approached by law enforcement officers, he was not in possession of legal documentation granting him status in the country. He will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings and will receive due process. To be clear, work authorization or a pending application do NOT confer legal status in the United States.”

      Pirela was visiting the Padres' Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas affiliate during their home series against the Salt Lake Bees. He was detained at the El Paso airport around 4 a.m. as he was traveling back to the Phoenix area, where he family lives and the Padres have their minor-league headquarters and spring training site in Peoria, Ariz.

      With ICE ramping up immigration checks at airports, Pirela and his family came up with a system of checking in during his travel. The family did not hear from him Sunday morning, raising concern.

      Pirela was the bench coach with the Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm in 2024. He was a minor-league catcher for the Texas Rangers from 2009-11.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      One of the better stories of the season in the San Diego Padres' system is movin' on up.

      Left fielder Alex McCoy, Padres Mission's No. 8 prospect, was promoted from High-A Fort Wayne to Double-A San Antonio on Friday. To make room on the Missions' roster, outfielder Jake Cunningham was placed on the seven-day injured list.

      The 24-year-old right-handed hitter signed with the Padres as an undrafted free agent in 2024 and has done nothing but hit since. This year with the TinCaps, the 6-foot-5, 240-pound McCoy slashed .268/.351/.469 with 15 homers and 55 RBIs, while stealing 20 bases in 97 games. He got off to a blazing start this year, posting a .354/.386/.683 in 22 April games. McCoy hit his Midwest League-leading 27th double in his last game Tuesday (the TinCaps have had their last two games wiped out by weather) as he had a hand in all four of Fort Wayne's runs in a 5-4 loss to the Quad Cities River Bandits.

      McCoy ranks in the top five in the Midwest League in three other categories: third in extra-base hits with 43, fourth in hits with 99 and fifth in total bases with 173. He leads the TinCaps in runs with 59, homers, RBIs, steals, multihit games with 27 and multi-RBI games with 15.

      Steve Drumwright

       

      With all of the uncertainty around the San Diego Padres' pitching depth as Monday's trade deadline approaches, they are taking a shot on a recently released player.

      Right-hander J.P. France has signed a minor-league contract with the Padres, The Athletic's Chandler Rome reported Saturday.

      The 31-year-old France had been designated for assignment by the Houston Astros, went unclaimed and was released Thursday. France made three relief appearances for the Astros this year, giving up six runs in 6⅔ innings, walking five and striking out four. He has been at Triple-A for most of 2026, appearing in 29 games, including one start, with a 3.72 ERA in 36⅓ innings. He had a rather high 14.8% walk rate and 23.1% strikeout rate. France appeared in 34 games, including 28 starts, for the Astros over the last four seasons, including 24 games (all but one a start) in 2023 as he posted a 3.83 ERA.

      He is likely to join Triple-A El Paso next week, depending on what else happens at the trade deadline.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

       

       

      The San Diego Padres are promoting top prospect Ethan Salas to Triple-A El Paso.

      Salas, Padres Mission's No. 1 prospect, went 1-for-3 Tuesday in the Double-A San Antonio Missions' 5-4 loss to the Amarillo Sod Poodles, then was promoted to the Chihuahuas, according to Chase Ford of MiLB Central.

      The 20-year-old catcher has been having a terrific season for the Missions, posting a career-high slash line of .286/.361/.417 with seven homers, 37 RBIs and 14 stolen bases in 72 games.

      The timing also comes just days before the trade deadline, with Salas being a popular target for front offices across MLB. Could this be a precursor of a Salas trade for a big Padres return? Or is this just a chance for Salas to get time at Triple-A before possibly making his MLB debut late this year or to begin 2027?

      Salas joins Blake Hunt and Anthony Vilar as El Paso's catchers. Hunt made his MLB debut this season after nine years in the minors. Rodolfo Duran, who started the year at El Paso and is currently with the Padres as a third catcher, also made his MLB debut after 11 seasons in the minors.

       

       

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The recent stretch of good outings has earned left-handed starter Jagger Haynes a trip to El Paso.

      The 23-year-old was promoted from the Double-A San Antonio Missions to the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas before Tuesday's series opener against the Las Vegas Aviators.

      Haynes, Padres Mission's No. 13 prospect, has a 4.37 ERA in 18 starts for the Missions, with a 10.2% walk rate, the best of his career, and a 21.2% strikeout rate, which is the worst of his career. In his most recent start Friday, Haynes struck out eight over six innings, allowing a run on three hits and a walk. Haynes was the Padres' fifth-round draft choice in 2020 out of West Columbus High School in North Carolina.

      Also on the move before series began Tuesday were right-handed reliever Jose Leclerc, whose rehab assignment was transferred from the Arizona Complex League to High-A Fort Wayne, left-hander Igor Gil moving up from Fort Wayne to San Antonio and right-hander Ryan Och being placed on the seven-day injured list.

      Steve Drumwright

       

      While the MLB Draft concluded one big piece of work for the San Diego Padres, there was still some immediate work left to do to help their minor-league system.

      Sign undrafted free agents, something they do pretty well. Two undrafted free agents are currently in Padres Mission's Top 20 prospects in Braedon Karpathios, who went undrafted in 2024, and Alex McCoy, who wasn't picked last summer.

      As of Thursday, Baseball America had reported that the Padres had signed nine players who were not selected, including two that were in the publication's top 500 draft prospects (there were 613 picked). All but two were out of college, with the others from high school.

      Leading the way are Mississippi State right-hander Tyler Pitzer and Winthrop outfielder Josh Skowronski. Pritzer (6-foot-3, 205 pounds) is a reliever who spent his first two seasons at South Carolina before transferring to Mississippi State. He struck out 38 in 30 innings over 22 appearances, posting a 3.20 ERA and a .193 opponent average. Pitzer was Baseball America's No. 307 draft prospect.

      Skowronski is a physical presence at 6-5 and 220 pounds and can play center field. After starting his career at Kentucky, he transferred to Winthrop for the past two seasons. The left-handed hitter slashed .305/.436/.588 with 13 homers and 49 RBIs in 58 games his first year at Winthrop, but followed that up with a .251/.414/.410 year with four homers and 23 RBIs in 55 games this season. Skowronski was Baseball America's 380th-ranked draft prospect.

      Here are the other seven at this point:

      Moyer has MLB bloodlines as the son of 25-year MLB left-hander Jamie Moyer.

      All of these players can sign for up to $150,000 without affecting the Padres' draft-bonus pool. None of the Padres' draft picks have signed thus far.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The San Diego Padres have released one of their most productive minor-league hitters.

      Infielder Pablo Reyes was let go from Triple-A El Paso by the Padres, according to the transaction tracker on his MLB profile page. The move was dated Thursday, but posted Friday. No word on whether the 32-year-old had an out clause in his contract or the Padres felt they had too many bodies at Triple-A.

      Reyes had been a consistent offensive presence in the Chihuahuas' lineup, putting up a .310/.408/.491 slash line in 56 games with six homers, 33 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. Reyes' batting average was second on the team and his 19 doubles were tops for the Chihuahuas, who recently got three players added to the roster in Luis Rengifo, Nick Solak and Will Wagner. Solak and Wagner were recently up with the Padres, while Rengifo was signed after being released by the Milwaukee Brewers.

      Reyes started the season off hot, reaching base in the first 30 games he played in. The Padres were Reyes' seventh organization and he appeared in the majors with four of those clubs.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The San Diego Padres' top two prospects are heading to the Futures Game.

      Catcher Ethan Salas, Padres Mission's No. 1 prospect, and left-handed starter Kash Mayfield, Padres Mission's No. 2 prospect, were named Wednesday to the showcase of MLB's top young minor-league players. Both players will represent the NL in the July 12 game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.

      This is the second selection for the 20-year-old Salas, who also played in the 2024 Futures Game. Salas was just activated off the seven-day injured list by the Double-A San Antonio Missions following a minor oblique injury. The left-handed hitter has a .277/.347/.427 slash line with seven homers, 33 RBIs and 13 steals in 56 games this year. He missed all but 10 games of 2025 with a stress fracture in his lower back. Salas was the No. 1 international player in the 2023 signing period.

      Mayfield, the Padres' first-round draft choice in 2024 (25th overall pick), has been having a mostly banner season at High-A Fort Wayne. In 12 starts, Mayfield has a 3.22 ERA with a 10.9% walk rate and 30.3% strikeout rate in 44⅔ innings. He also has allowed a .192 opponent batting average. He began the season with three scoreless starts in which he allowed just one hit (coming in the third game) covering 12 innings, with five walks and 16 strikeouts. Mayfield had a mid-June start skipped to manage his workload.

      Salas will be one of 19 No. 1 prospects to represent their franchise at the Futures Game.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The time Ethan Salas spent on the injured list was indeed short.

      Salas, Padres Mission's No. 1 prospect, was activated from the seven-day injured list Tuesday by the Double-A San Antonio Missions. Salas was in the lineup at catcher and batting leadoff in the Missions' batting order.

      The 20-year-old top prospect for the San Diego Padres had been sidelined since sustaining a mild oblique injury during a June 17 doubleheader. He was placed on the IL the next day.

      Salas is having a really nice bounce-back season after missing all but 10 games last season due to a stress reaction in his lower back. The left-handed hitter is slashing .282/.352/.432 with seven homers and 33 RBIs in 56 games as well as 13 steals.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      With the first half of the season complete, promotions at all levels were revealed before Tuesday's series openers of the full-season San Diego Padres affiliates. The biggest impact was felt at High-A Fort Wayne, where the TinCaps have eight new players, and Low-A Lake Elsinore, with six players joining the Storm.

      Among Padres Mission's Top 20 prospects, No. 5 Ryan Wideman, No. 14 Tucker Musgrove and No. 19 Bryan Balzer were the only ones to change levels, but not the only interesting names.

      Here is a recap of the movement (previous team in parentheses):

      Joining Triple-A El Paso:

      Joining Double-A San Antonio:

      Joining High-A Fort Wayne:

      Joining Low-A Lake Elsinore:

      Joining Arizona Complex League:

      Steve Drumwright

       

      With the first half of the minor-league season officially in the books, it is promotion time.

      After news of right-handed reliever Tucker Musgrove, Padres Mission's No. 14 prospect, going up from High-A Fort Wayne to Double-A San Antonio broke Sunday, a few more moves became known Monday, with more on the way before the start of new series Tuesday.

      That begins with center fielder Ryan Wideman, the minors' stolen base leader. Padres Mission's No. 5 prospect, Wideman is going from Low-A Lake Elsinore to High-A Fort Wayne. Also, right-handed reliever Andrew Moore and first baseman Romeo Sanabria are going from Double-A San Antonio to Triple-A El Paso.

      Wideman, perhaps the most dynamic hitter in the system, is slashing .314/.389/.504 with six homers and 44 RBIs to go along with a minors-best 43 steals (13 times caught stealing) over 65 games.

      Moore is having a breakthrough season as a 26-year-old. He has a 1.85 ERA in 20 games and 24⅓ innings with 24 walks and 45 strikeouts.

      Sanabria was a candidate to start this year at El Paso, but was on San Antonio's Opening Day roster for the second season in a row. He has a .247/.345/.394 with eight homers and 36 RBIs in 66 games.

      As mentioned above, there will be more promotions (and probably cuts) before Tuesday's games begin.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      One of the San Diego Padres' most coveted arms has earned a promotion.

      Right-handed reliever Tucker Musgrove, Padres Mission's No. 14 prospect, has been promoted to Double-A San Antonio, according to ESPN's Kiley McDaniel.

      At Low-A Fort Wayne this season, the 6-foot-1 24-year-old has appeared in 19 games and posted a 3.79 ERA with 40 strikeouts and 13 walks in 19 innings. Musgrove pitched in his final game for the TinCaps on Sunday, retiring all four batters he faced, including two strikeouts.

      Musgrove has tantalizing stuff, reaching triple-digits with his four-seam fastball and sinker just a few ticks below that. He also mixes in a sweeper and a slider. Musgrove was a seventh-round draft choice in 2023 and had Tommy John surgery shortly after signing.

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The San Diego Padres' top prospect will be sidelined for a bit.

      Catcher Ethan Salas, Padres Mission's No. 1 prospect, was placed on the seven-day injured list by the Double-A San Antonio Missions, according to the team. The type of injury was not disclosed by the team, but Mad Friars reported it to be a minor oblique strain. The move was made retroactive to Thursday.

      The 20-year-old Salas was in the midst of a breakout season when he was injured. The left-handed hitter has a slash line of .282/.352/.432 with seven homers and 33 RBIs in 56 games. He also has 13 steals in 17 attempts. Salas last played in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Corpus Christi hooks when he walked three times, going 0-for-1 and scored three times. The three walks matched a career high, one other happening this season, May 3 vs. Tulsa, and the other happening in 2024 while playing for High-A Fort Wayne.

      Salas has been otherwise healthy this season after missing all but 10 games of 2025 due to a stress reaction in his lower back.

      While Salas would seem like an untouchable prospect as the trade deadline approaches, his name has popped up in rumors and it wouldn't be the first time Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller would deal the system's top prospect. Just last year, shortstop Leo De Vries was part of a big package of prospects that went to the A's in the Mason Miller trade.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      After entering spring training as a serious option to make the back end of the San Diego Padres' starting rotation, left-hander Marco Gonzales has been released while with the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas.

      The 34-year-old Gonzales missed the entire 2025 season after having flexor tendon surgery in September 2024. In the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, Gonzales had 12 starts and one relief appearance, posting a 7.99 ERA over 47⅓ innings, with 18 walks and 36 strikeouts.

      His last outing came Saturday and was one of his best of the season. He gave up three runs, but only one earned, in four innings on a season-low three hits with one walk and two strikeouts. He also had four starts where he gave up six or more runs.

       

      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

       

      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.

       

      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
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