Paddack has been dominant for San Antonio. (Photo: Grant Wickes)
Four top 30 Padres pitching prospects toed the rubber Tuesday, and for three of them, it was the worst start of their year. The fourth was Chris Paddack who continues to be extremely dominant in Double-A.
El Paso had the night off
Corpus Christi Hooks 5 – Missions 4
Key Stats: RHP Chris Paddack 5 IP, 4 H, ER, 7 K; RHP Andres Munoz 0.1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, BB; 3B Ty France 2-4, HR (16), RBI; DH Taylor Kohlwey 1-3, HR (5), 3 RBI
Prospect Watch: Another Chris Paddack start, another incredibly impressive performance. Paddack allowed one run over five innings while striking out seven and walking none. Per reports, Paddack was sitting 94-96 on the fastball early, and ended the night still hitting 94. After the briefest of hiccups in his strikeout and walk dominance when he reached Double-A, he got through his second start in a row without allowing a free pass, to bring his overall total for the year to 110 strikeouts compared to seven walks. For context, he was praised for having great control after walking seven in 45.1 innings in his 2015 draft year. In 2018, following Tommy John surgery when control is usually off a bit, Paddack has walked seven in 80 innings. In terms of baserunners, this was actually his worst start in Double-A. Paddack allowed four men to reach safely in six innings in a start earlier in the month. This time out, he matched the total in five frames. Texas League opponents are hitting a comical .122 against him. He will likely claim the circuit’s pitcher of the month honors after posted a 1.30 ERA over his first five starts. Subscribers can read our latest interview with Chris Paddack here. … On the other side of the success story, righty Andres Muñoz allowed a run for the first time in 15.2 innings this season. He was missing location with his fastball, which resulted in him grooving multiple pitches down the middle, which even at 98 mph, can still be hit a long way. The 19-year-old came on with a one run lead, two outs and a runner on first. He issued a leadoff walk and a pair of back-to-back singles before Austin Allen ended the inning by throwing out a would-be base-stealer. The final run may not have scored had a wild throw by Josh Naylor not allowed the runners to advance uncontested. Muñoz has walked six in 10 innings as he adjusts to having to make his slider look better out of his hand to get chases from more advanced hitters in Double-A. … Allen threw out both Hooks runners who attempted a stolen base against him and has pushed his success rate up to a solid 36% for the season, though Texas League runners continue to test him far more frequently than anyone else on the circuit. Runners have attempted to take a base 107 times against Allen, nearly 50 percent more than the next-highest total.
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 19 – Storm 6
Key Stats: RHP Reggie Lawson 2.1 IP, 10 H, 11 ER, 2 BB, K; 2B Eguy Rosario 2-4, 2B, HR (9), RBI, HBP; C Luis Torrens 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI; LF Nate Easley 4-4, 3 2B, 2 R
Prospect Watch: A warm night plus the wind blowing out at 16 MPH equals a recipe for plenty of offense. Reggie Lawson allowed three home runs in just over two innings of work, getting pounded for 11 runs in the process. At home this year Lawson has a 3.69 ERA, on the road it balloons up to 7.79. Despite being one of the few people used to pitching in the California desert (he’s from Victor Valley), Lawson will be glad to return to Lake Elsinore for his next start. Lawson, who turns 21 on Thursday, has struggled as he’s worked past his innings total from last year. In seven second-half starts, he carries a 9.38 ERA as opponents’ batting average has jumped to .354 – nearly 130 points higher than the first half of the year. … LF Nate Easley had his first career four-hit game, including three doubles. It capped off his best professional month, in which he hit .345/.402/.529 in 97 plate appearances. The former 25th-round pick has taken advantage of his playing time with Buddy Reed in San Antonio. Since moving to an everyday roll, the son of Padres’ minor league instructor Damian has hit over .300 with the Storm.
TinCaps 7 – Bowling Green Hot Rods 4
Key Stats: RHP Luis Patiño 5 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, BB, 2 K; LHP Travis Radke (W, 2-4) 2.1 IP, 3 K; CF Jeisson Rosario 2-4, 2B, 2 R; 2B Kelvin Melean 4-5, 2B, RBI, SB (1); C Juan Fernandez 2-5, HR (2), 3 RBI
Prospect Watch: On June 23, with two outs in the fourth inning, RHP Luis Patiño allowed an RBI triple to Western Michigan’s Alexis Garcia. It was the last extra-base hit Patiño had allowed in 26.1 innings until a double to open Tuesday’s game. Before Patiño ended the second inning, he had allowed five extra-base hits, including his first home run of the season. That was the type of day the 18-year-old had. As bad a beginning as it was Patiño picked off a runner to end the second inning, and allowed just one more hit over his final three frames. He needed 75 pitches (49 strikes) to get through the five innings. … The player of the game was catcher Juan Fernandez. With two on and two out in a tie game in the ninth, the 19-year-old crushed his second home run of the year to give the TinCaps the lead. Fernandez has struggled this year, hitting .229/.293/.317 after going .295/.368/.491 last year in Peoria. However, he has time to develop and Tuesday was a reminder of the power potential he has.
Dust Devils 4 –Boise Hawks 1
Key Stats: RHP Sam Keating (W, 3-4) 5.1 IP, 2 H, ER, 2 BB, 5 K; LHP Dan Dallas IP, 2 K; CF Grant Little 2-5, 2B, RS; 1B Justin Paulsen 2-4, RS, RBI; 3B Olivier Basabe 2-4, RBI; RF Dwanya Williams-Sutton 2-2
Prospect Watch: Before the game, five Dust Devils were named to the All-Star team. They were headlined by Henry Henry (2.95 ERA, 34 K, 42.2IP) and relievers Dan Dallas (1.85 ERA, 40 K, 24.1 IP), Jordan Guerrero (0.00 ERA, 19 K, 15 IP). Infielders Owen Miller (.335/.378/.449) and Olivier Basabe (.321/.377/.496), who are 10th and tied for 11th in on-base percentage also made the team. Both 21-year-olds reached base two more times Tuesday night, as did the three other Dust Devils atop the lineup. Dallas and Guerrero each worked a scoreless inning to finish out the victory for Tri-City. … Former Dust Devil Emmanuel Clase, who was traded to the Rangers in May and leads the league in saves for Spokane, was also named to the squad.
AZL Dodgers 2 – AZL Padres-1 1
Key Stats: RHP Luarbert Arias (L, 2-3) 5 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, BB, 3 K; SS Xavier Edwards 1-3, BB; RF Agustin Ruiz 3-4, 2B
AZL White Sox 7 – AZL Padres-2 5
Key Stats: RHP Hansel Rodriguez IP, 2 K; RHP Michell Millano 0.1 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, K; 2B Tucupita Marcano 3-5, R; C Jonny Homza 2-5, R; LF Hunter Jarmon 1-3, 3B, 2 RBI
Prospect Watch: Shortstop Xavier Edwards reached base twice to extend his streak. He has now reached base in all 16 games as a professional, including multiple times in nine of the games. He has reached base 31 times in 66 plate appearances. … Agustin Ruiz collected three hits as he continues to find his footing as an 18-year-old. The talented outfielder from Mexico has a .763 OPS on the year, nearly 200 points above his mark in limited action in the AZL last summer, but has struggled to find the balance in attacking pitches and showing patience. … Former TinCaps closer Hansel Rodriguez‘s slow return to action continued as he tossed another scoreless frame. The 21-year-old righty has pitched every third game in the AZL. In five innings he has allowed just one hit and two walks while striking out seven as he comes back from an extended layoff after elbow soreness late in spring when his velocity was well down. It still remains to be seen how long until he joins the Storm, who could use the bullpen help.
