Joey Cantillo has been dominant in his last six starts. (Photo: Jeff Nycz)
Chihuahuas day off
El Paso begins a homestand Wednesday.
NW Arkansas Naturals 9 Sod Poodles 3
Key Stats: RHP Jesse Scholtens 4 IP, 5 H, 4 R (3 ER), 4 BB, 4 K; RHP Michel Báez 2 IP, H, 1 R (0 ER), 3 K; 2B Peter Van Gansen 2-5, R, 2B; CF Buddy Reed 2-4, 2B; C Luis Torrens 1-4, 2 RBI
Prospect Watch: RHP Michel Báez continues to throw every four days, striking out a third of Texas League batters as he does it. While some pitchers in the system are on structured workloads because the Padres are trying to cap innings or build them back up to start, it appears the club is unsure about whether to move the top 100 prospect back into the rotation or if they should continue to let him face a lineup only one time. After three straight two-inning outings of about 30 pitches when he first joined the club, Báez threw 50 pitches over 2.2 innings in his next appearance. But the giant righty needed only 11 pitches in one frame last time out and got through his two innings Tuesday needing just 24. While it’s not clear if he’ll keep working out of the bullpen, he sports a 1.54 ERA and 17:3 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 11.2 innings in the role. … C Luis Torrens has quietly had a nice year with a .764 OPS and has reached base safely in every game this month. However, it remains to be seen if Torrens is doing enough to warrant staying on the 40-man roster when the Padres already have Austin Hedges, Francisco Mejia, and Austin Allen ahead of him. Torrens is a solid defender and picked off a runner Tuesday, but doesn’t have the defense of Hedges or the offense of Mejia or Allen, so where does he fit?
Lancaster Jethawks 2 Storm 1
Key Stats: RHP Luis Patiño (L, 4-5) 6 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, BB, 6 K; LF Allen Córdoba 1-4, HR (2), RBI
Prospect Watch: A night after they managed just one hit, the Storm needed a ninth-inning homer by Allen Córdoba to avoid a second straight shutout. … Center fielder Jeisson Rosario left the game after he pulled up a bit lame trying to leg out a first-inning grounder. Hopefully, the move was more precautionary, but we will work on getting more information. … After RHP Luis Patiño cruised through the first two innings, the JetHawks adjusted their approach and started swinging aggressively at the first pitch. In the third inning, he gave up a double and a single both on the first pitch, and the trend of swinging early continued the rest of the game. While two earned runs over six innings are far from a bad start for Patiño, it also serves as a learning experience for him about the type of pitch for strike one.
TinCaps 4 Bowling Green Hot Rods 0
Key Stats: LHP Joey Cantillo (W, 4-2) 5 IP, H, 4 K; SS Justin Lopez 1-2, HR (6), RBI; 2B Xavier Edwards 2-5, 2B, R, 2 RBI
Prospect Watch: Last year, Joey Cantillo struck out 63 batters in 49 innings between the AZL and Fort Wayne. After Tuesday’s start, Cantillo has struck out 63 batters in 49 innings this year. The 19-year-old cruised, allowing just a single by über-prospect Wander Franco over five innings. As great as this start was, it was the second time in five starts that Cantillo allowed just one baserunner in 5+ innings. Over 27 innings in his last five starts, Cantillo has allowed just two earned runs on 12 hits while posting a 31:5 strikeout-to-walk ratio. With the Midwest League All-Star game scheduled for Cantillo’s next regular throw date, it’s possible he’s made his last start in Low-A. … Justin Lopez got the scoring started with his sixth home run of the year, and his first home run of the month. Lopez, who hit six home runs all of last year, added considerable muscle in the offseason, and it is starting to play out. At just 19 years old, Lopez now leads the club with six home runs.
Draft updates
While no new information on signings came out from the Padres on Tuesday, the club still has a bit more than $3.6 million they can spend, so despite being quick-movers in signing most of their picks from the first two days, there’s still plenty more to come in the next few weeks. John talked with Keith Law for his views of the Padres’ approach as part of a series of Q&A’s we have this week. They and all of our draft coverage are available here.
