Ryan Weathers got the nod for the El Paso Chihuahuas’ home opener. (Photo Jorge Salgado)
Chihuahuas 13, Oklahoma City Dodgers 11
Key Statistics: C Luis Campusano 3-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI; RF Trayce Thompson 1-4, HR (3), 3 RBI, R, BB; LF Brent Rooker 2-4, HR (1), 3 RBI, 2 R, BB; Ryan Weathers 3.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 2 K; RHP Grant Gavin (W, 1-0) (BS, 1) 2 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K.
Prospect Watch: If it wasn’t evident by now, the PCL is back. The Chihuahuas looked like they were on their way to a rout, posting seven runs in the third inning to mount a 9-1 lead. The Dodgers wasted little time responding, posting six runs in the fourth and chasing Ryan Weathers from the contest. While the 21-year-old pitched deeper into the ballgame than in his debut appearance, there was still plenty of hard contact; four balls hit by opposing batters exceeded 100 MPH. The combination of barreled up baseballs and command issues led to another short night for the former first-round pick. … Luis Campusano stuffed the stat sheet, hitting a pair of doubles, scoring three times and driving in two runs. A late addition to the El Paso roster, the Georgia native, is off to a .417/.462/.583 start to his 2022 campaign. … With the game up for grabs in the late going, newly acquired outfield Brent Rooker answered the call, blasting a mammoth three-run home run to center field that likely put some vehicles in jeopardy outside the stadium. The former Mississippi State Bulldog has prodigious raw power but will need to boost his contact rates to access it more frequently.
Gabe Mosser made his Double-A debut in the Missions’ home opener. (Photo: Rey Holguin)
Frisco RoughRiders 6, Missions 4
Key Statistics: CF Esteury Ruiz 2-4, 2B, 2 R, BB, 2 SB; 1B Mitch Walding 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI; RF Agustin Ruiz 2-3, RBI, BB; RHP Gabe Mosser 5 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K; RHP Ryan Lillie (L, 0-1) (BS, 1) 2 IP, 4 H, 3 R (1 ER), 2 BB, K.
Prospect Watch: An eighth inning, two-out error opened the door for the visiting RoughRiders to slide past the Missions at Wolff Stadium. The loss evened the Missions’ record at 2-2. … Esteury Ruiz continued his hot streak with his third multi-hit contest in four games. The versatile 23-year-old from Azua, Dominican Republic, raised his average to .471 with the performance. … Organizational newcomer Mitch Walding supplied half the offense for San Antonio with a first-inning two-run double out of the cleanup spot. The well-traveled 29-year-old spent the 2021 season in the Los Angeles Angels system, and signed with the Padres in early March. While he experimented with a conversion to catcher curing spring training, Walding has only played at first base so far in the young season. … Gabe Mosser got the start for the Missions, throwing five efficient innings while not factoring into the decision. The Allentown, Pennsylvania native struck out five without allowing a walk in his Double-A debut. Nursing a one-run lead, Ryan Lillie couldn’t make it hold up as a pair of unearned runs ultimately led to him taking the loss. After he was released last October, the 25-year-old is yet another new face in the system, coming over from the Cincinnati Reds system.
Angel Solarte comes around to score. (Photo: John Nagel)
TinCaps 5, South Bend Cubs 3
Key Statistics: CF Robert Hassell III 2-4, HR (2), 2 RBI, 2 R, SB; C Brandon Valenzuela 1-2, 2 BB, R; LHP Noel Vela 4 IP, 2 H, 3 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 3 K; LHP Ryan Och (W, 1-0) 2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, BB, 3 K; RHP Mason Fox (S, 1) 1 IP. 0 H, 0 ER, 2 K
Noel Vela bounced back from a rough first inning. (Photo: John Nael)
Prospect Watch: After the Cubs plated three unearned runs in the first inning, TinCaps starter Noel Vela and a trio of relievers righted the ship as Fort Wayne rallied to win at Parkview Field. No Cubs baserunner advanced beyond second base after the first. … Justin Lopez tied the game in the fifth with a two-out RBI double, setting the stage for late heroics by none other than Robert Hassell III. The 20-year-old uber-prospect provided the final margin, connecting for his second opposite-field home run in three games. Hassell’s video game-like OPS in the early going sits at 1.396, and he currently has more stolen bases (3) than strikeouts (2). … Ryan Och picked up the win in relief, tossing a pair of shutout innings. A 2021 seventh-round selection out of Southern Miss, the left-hander has shown solid swing and miss ability, striking out 22 batters in just 15 innings across three different minor league stints.
Visalia Rawhide 10, Storm 3
Key Statistics: 2B Max Ferguson 1-3, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 SB; 3B Lucas Dunn 2-4, 2 RBI, BB; RHP Ruben Galindo (L, 0-1) 3 IP, 9 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 2 K; RHP Luis Garcia 1 IP, H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Prospect Watch: The Storm offense had plenty of opportunities but never got out of first gear as the Rawhide ran away and hid in the home opener at the Diamond. Lucas Dunn produced the only multi-hit effort in the lineup, driving in a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth. The 22-year-old hasn’t flashed a ton of power with just two home runs in 45 games thus far, but has shown solid on-base abilities. … Ruben Galindo‘s second attempt at California League success got off to a rocky start as the Colombian got knocked around by the Rawhide and lasted just three innings. Of more importance perhaps is who followed Galindo, rehabbing big leaguer Luis Garcia. The hard-throwing reliever notched another perfect inning, whiffing two. It stands to reason Garcia could join the big league club when his 10-day IL stint is over later this week.
Note: Baseball America’s Kyle Glaser reported that Storm outfielder James Wood is dealing with a hand injury before the contest, but noted that his absence is likely precautionary at this point. Per a Padres official, Wood should return “sooner than later” to the Lake Elsinore lineup.
