On a night the big club put on a show in their home opener, the farm system delivered mixed results. El Paso and Lake Elsinore won, Fort Wayne split a doubleheader with their in-state rivals, and San Antonio dropped one at home. Of course, the big story on the farm was a familiar face getting in some innings for the Storm.
Eguy Rosario hit a home run on Thursday night. (Photo: Jorge Salgado).
Chihuahuas 7,Oklahoma City Dodgers 5
Key Stats: 3B Eguy Rosario, 2-for-5, HR, R, RBI; C Luis Campusano, 3-for-5, 2 R; 1B Aderlin Rodriguez, 2-for-5, 2 HR, 2 R, 6 RBI; RHP Jesse Scholtens, 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, BB, 6 K; LHP Ray Kerr (W, 1-0), 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, K)
Luis Campusano has been on fire in El Paso. (Photo: Jorge Salgado).
Prospect Watch: There was no Dodger lovin’ in El Paso as the Chihuahuas jumped out to an early lead against their rivals. Eguy Rosario got things started with a leadoff home run, the first of his Triple-A career. Like his time spent in the Arizona Fall League, Rosario has been getting playing time at third base, after primarily manning second base early in his career, and shortstop in the second half of last season. … Welcome back, Aderlin Rodriguez! The first baseman returned to the organization in the offseason after playing in Japan in 2020 and Toledo in the Tigers organization in 2021. With two home runs Thursday, Rodriguez now has seven hits on the season; three of them have left the yard. … Luis Campusano is now slashing ..471/.500/.588 as he punishes PCL pitchers who probably wish he’d cracked the Padres roster out of camp. … Jesse Scholtens is now up to 12 scoreless innings to start his second season with the Chihuahuas. The 2016 ninth-round pick made 20 starts for El Paso last year, being their most consistent source of innings throughout the year. … Ray Kerr picked up his first win since joining the Padres organization in the second Adam Frazier trade. The 27-year-old lefty is coming off a breakout season in the Mariners organization, striking out 60 batters in 39.2 innings across two levels.
Yorman Rodriguez had a pair of hits for the Missions. (Photo: Joe Alexander)
Frisco RoughRiders 6, Missions 3
Key Stats: RHP Moises Lugo, 2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 5 K; RHP Nolan Watson, 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 K; CF Esteury Ruiz, 1-for-2, R, RBI, BB; 1B Brandon Dixon, 1-for-3, 3B, R, RBI; C Yorman Rodriguez, 2-for-4; LF Tirso Ornelas, 1-for-3, R
Prospect Watch: After a rough debut, Moises Lugo‘s second appearance of the season looked much more like the pitcher who posted a 1.80 ERA in six games for San Antonio last year. The righty struck out five while only walking one. … Nolan Watson was dominant in his second appearance for the Missions. The 25-year-old righty was signed as a free agent after spending his career in the Royals organization, who drafted him 33rd overall in 2015. … Esteury Ruiz is back in the hit column a day after his four-game hitting streak to begin the season was halted. The 23-year-old is back with the Missions to start the year after missing significant time to injuries in 2021. … Brandon Dixon added a triple for the Missions. Dixon, who was born in La Jolla, is back stateside after spending 2021 playing for the Rakuten Golden Eagles of NPB. … Yorman Rodriguez smacked a pair of base hits and made his second start behind the plate. The 24-year-old only made five starts at catcher last season, primarily being used at first base and DH. … Tirso Ornelas got a hit in his second straight game and is batting .308 in his first season in the Texas League.
Jarryd Dale blasted a. home run on Thursday night. (Photo: John Nagel).
South Bend Cubs 7, TinCaps 2 (Game 1)
Key Stats: RHP Jason Reynolds, 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, K; CF Robert Hassell III, 2-for-4; SS Jarryd Dale, 1-for-3, HR, R, 2 RBI;
Prospect Watch: The first seven-inning game of the doubleheader didn’t go Fort Wayne’s way. Jason Reynolds pitched two scoreless innings, the second spotless frame of his season so far. Reynolds joined the organisation as a 32nd-round pick in 2019. Robert Hassell III had a pair of hits, bringing his hitting streak to five games to start the season. … Jarryd Dale provided the scoring for Fort Wayne in the loss, hitting his second home run of the season. The Aussie native has been impressed with his versatility, playing all over the field and starting the 2022 season with increased power.
Jason Reynolds threw in Game 1. (Photo: John Nagel).
TinCaps 6, South Bend Cubs 2 (Game 2; makeup of 4/13)
Key Stats: LHP Robert Gasser, 4 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 9 K; RHP Felix Minjarez (W, 1-0), 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5K; LF Corey Rosier, 1-for-1, 3 BB, 2 R, 2 SB; CF Robert Hassell III, 2-for-4, SB 2 R; SS Jarryd Dale, 2-for-3, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI;
Prospect Watch: The second Midwest League start for Robert Gasser was a huge improvement, as the lefty fanned recorded nine of his 12 outs via strikeout while walking none. The 71st overall pick of the 2021 draft, Gasser has been a fast riser, finishing the season away from the Peoria complex with five starts for Lake Elsinore. … Riverside native Felix Minjarez made his second scoreless appearance in his return to the TinCaps in 2022. The 25-year-old righty joined the organisation as an undrafted free agent in 2018. … Corey Rosier hasn’t gotten the bat going yet, but still has a .385 OBP in six games, thanks to seven walks. Rosier also stole two bases, including a steal of home. … With two more hits, Robert Hassell III is doing Robert Hassell III things, slashing .478/.399/.483 in his first six games of the season. … Jarryd Dale has brought some pop to Fort Wayne to start the season, in fact, all five of his hits have now gone for extra bases, good for a .789 slugging percentage.
Jackson Merrill can do damage going the other way. (Photo: Jerry Espinoza)
Storm 14,Visalia Rawhide 3
Key Stats: RHP Mike Clevinger, 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K; RHP Jairo Iriarte (W, 1-0) 4 IP 0 H, 0 R, BB, 7 K; SS Jackson Merrill, 4-for-5, BB, 2 R, 2 RBI; LF Pierce Jones, 2-for-5, 2B, 2 R; DH Carlos Luis, 1-for-4, 2B, BB R, 2 RBI;
Prospect Watch: The first rehab start for Mike Clevinger was a success, as he finished his two scheduled innings in scoreless fashion. Clevinger threw 31 pitches, locating 24 for strikes, and overall looked to be regaining the rhythm he had on the backfields earlier in spring training. Clevinger will likely make at least one more rehab start before rejoining the Padres, whether it’s in Lake Elsinore or at another level. … Clev was relieved by Jairo Iriarte, a 20-year-old righty from La Guaira, Venezuela. Iriarte built on his season debut with four dazzling innings, bringing his scoreless innings streak to six. His strikeout-to-walk ratio now sits at 10:1. … Jackson Merrill keeps tearing up California League pitching in the young season, slashing .370/.452/.444 in 27 at-bats. … A pair of hits, including a double for Pierce Jones, continues his hot start to the season. A 26th round pick in 2019, Jones returned to the AZL for some more seasoning in 2021, and it paid off, slashing .302/.446/.524 in 63 at-bats in the desert. … Carlos Luis has now notched a hit in four straight games to start the season, good for a .333 average. Luis is a native of Tamayo, Dominican Republic, and he joined the Padres as part of the 2016 signing class.
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