San Diego Padres Daily Farm Report July 7

The Chihuahuas  (23-29) begin a six-game series with the Oklahoma City Dodgers starting tomorrow with right-hander Jesse Scholtens taking the mound.  As has been the case all year, the Chihuahuas continue to be lead by the luck of the Irish in Brian O’Grady.  His .304/.380/.624 line puts him sixth in the Triple-A West, while Daniel Camerena ranks third in ERA at 3.74.

Missions 7,  Amarillo Sod Poodles 6

Key Stats: LF Ben Ruta 3-for-4, 2 2B, 2 RS, RBI; SS Eguy Rosario 3-for-5, RS, RBI, SB (14); C Juan Fernandez 2-for-4, RS, RBI, BB, 2B

Prospect Watch: The Missions had their second consecutive walk-off victory when catcher Juan Fernandez, 22, hit a game-winning single to defeat the Padres’ former minor league affiliate. The Venezuelan native is getting his first real opportunity at consistent playing time this year in his fifth year in the organization and has a slash line of .250/.342/.379 but is better known for his defensive abilities.  .. With CJ Abrams out, the next best offensive prospect is the new shortstop Eguy Rosario.  After spending the last four years playing almost solely second and third base, Rosario has moved over to short with the injury to Abrams.  Since moving there, he is hitting .346/.433/.385.  While a week and a half is a small sample size, it has arguably been his best stretch since his rookie year in 2016. …After a tough stretch in El Paso, outfielder Ben Ruta found himself back in Double-A.  After two games, he has been feasting.  He has gone 4-for-7 with two doubles, two runs, two RBI, two walks and a stolen base.  Good enough for a 1.457 OPS.

Lake County Captains 7, TinCaps 6

Key Stats: RHP Edwuin Bencomo 2 IP, 4 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 2 K; 2B Chris Given 2-for-3, 2 RS, 2 BB; LF Tirso Ornelas 1-for-3, RS, 2 BB; SS Justin Lopez 1-for-3, HR (6), 3 RBI, BB

Prospect Watch: The TinCaps managed 14 baserunners but could only get one big hit, and fell just short.  Since a slow first month of the season, Justin Lopez has nearly a .780 OPS.  One of the big differences has been his power against right-handed pitching.  While the switch-hitter is batting .222 verse righties, he has all six of his home runs, including tonights and a .412 SLG against righties (vs lefties he is hitting .280/.333/.360).  … After getting drafted in the 14^th round of the 2018 draft, left-handed pitcher Erik Sabrowski almost immediately had Tommy John surgery.  Finally being healthy, he was hurt by no 2020 season.  Now, over three years removed from the draft and his surgery, he is finally getting a chance to pitch and show what he is capable of.  Tonight was the longest outing of his career, going four innings allowing only one run on three hits, walking one and striking out five.  In 14 innings of professional ball this year, Sabrowski has struck out 26 and has a 1.29 ERA.

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 16, Storm 3

Key Stats: CF Robert Hassell III 1-for-4, RS, 2B; 2B Euribiel Angeles 2-for-3, 2 RS, 2B, RBI, BB; RHP Chase Walter 1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K

Prospect Watch: There’s hot, and then there is Euribiel Angeles.  On Sunday, June 20, Angeles only reached base one time, lowering his batting average to .291 with a .704 OPS.  Since then, he has arguably been one of the hottest players in all of baseball, raising his average to .348 with a .844 OPS.  Those numbers now rank him in the top 10 in both average and OPS.  … A week ago, Kyle Glaser of Baseball America mentioned Chase Walter as one of his most surprising players.  Walter is throwing upper 90s with truly nasty secondary pitches.  While he did give up earned runs for the first time tonight, he also recorded every out in the game via strikeout. Not only is that great for any team, but it’s also even more for a Low-A reliever who was an undrafted free agent, and shows that great players can come later in the draft.