Sacramento River Cats, 12, Chihuahuas 4
Key Statistics: SS Tim Lopes 4-5, 2B; 3B Yorman Rodriguez 2-5, 2 RBI; 1B Rangel Ravelo 1-3, BB; RHP Anderson Espinoza (L, 0-2) 22 IP 6 H 7 R 4 BB 4 K; LHP Tom Cosgrove 1.0 IP BB 2 K
Yorman Rodriguez was in action with San Antonio last year. (Photo: Kimberly Bates, Springfield Cardinals)
Prospect Watch: The River Cats put seven runs on the board in the third inning to put the game out of reach as El Paso dropped their third straight after winning the first two games in Sacramento. … Former Seattle Mariner and Milwaukee Brewer minor leaguer Tim Lopes continues his hot start after impressing more than a few in the Padres big league camp in the spring. In 32 plate appearances, he is slashing .346/.469/.654 splitting time between shortstop and second and third base. … Yorman Rodriguez, who has a career minor league line of .308/.355/.432, has always hit and has seen time in the past at both first and third base, in addition to catching. The Padres selected the 25-year-old from the Toronto Blue Jays organization in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft before the 2021 season. He should see the majority of his time at first and third this year with San Diego’s catching depth. .. Tom Cosgrove, 27, struck out the first two batters he faced, walked the next and got a fly out to end the fifth. The former Manhattan College star has been perfect in his three appearances this season with El Paso. He had a strong year last season in San Antonio and El Paso and could have a shot to make his major league debut when the big team needs a bullpen arm.
Tulsa Drillers 5, Missions 2
Key Statistics: C Jesus Fernandez 1-3, 2B; SS Evan Mendoza 1-4, RBI; RHP Duncan Snider 4.0 IP, 3 H, BB, 2 K; RHP Jose Quezada (L, 0-1) 0.0 IP 3 H, 5 R, BB; LHP Jared Koenig 1.0 2 K
Duncan Snider had a strong showing during spring. (Photo: Jerry Espinoza)
Prospect Watch: Duncan Snider tossed four scoreless innings in his Double-A debut before the Drillers broke it open in the fifth inning. The Dodgers affiliate, which got four four one-hit innings from River Ryan, scored all five of their runs in a tough outing for Jose Quezada. San Antonio came back to score in the sixth and eighth innings, but it wasn’t enough, as they dropped the opening series to Tulsa. … For the second night in a row, the Missions sent a 6-foot-7 starter to the mound, and like Jackson Wolf before him, Snider did an excellent job. The 25-year-old righty allowed three three hits and walked one while striking out two, showing off his plus slider and a downward tilting fastball. After the Padres signed Snider out of the American Association last summer, the Iowa Native went 6-1 with 57 punchouts against 12 walks in 48 innings for the Lake Elsinore Storm. … Jared Koenig, 29, struck out the first two batters he saw before getting a groundout to close out his first inning in the organization. Koenig signed a minor league free agent deal after spending the last two years in the Oakland A’s organization. Last year, he worked primarily for Triple-A Las Vegas, but also pitched 39.1 innings for big league club with a 5.72 ERA. .. Infielder/Outfielder Korry Howell, who we had as the Missions’ top position prospect is off to a rough start, going hitless in his first 13 plate appearances with eight strikeouts.
West Michigan Whitecaps 3, TinCaps 1
Key Statistics: LF Lucas Dunn 3-3, 2B, BB; 2B Nerwilian Cedeno 1-3, 2B, RBI; RHP Adam Mazur 3.0 IP, H, 2 K; LHP Miguel Cienfuegos 3.0 IP, H 3 BB, 3 K; RHP Aaron Holiday (L, 0-1) 3 R 3 BB; RHP Chris Lincoln 1.0 IP 2 BB
Lucas Dunn was with the TinCaps in 2022. (Photo: Jeff Nycz)
Prospect Watch: The TinCaps were swept in their opening series as they could only plate three runs in three games. Fort Wayne took the early lead on Nerwilian Cedeno two-out double down the right field line, but West Michigan made the most of four straight walks to open the seventh inning to rally for the win. … Adam Mazur, the Padres’ number nine prospect, looked good in his professional debut, throwing 36 pitches, 22 for strikes over three scoreless innings. The righty, who turns 22 this month, sat mid-90s with his fastball while giving up just one hit. He was the Padres’ second-round selection after earning Big Ten Pitcher of the Year honors for the University of Iowa. Coming out of the draft, Mazur was seen as someone who, because he can throw four solid pitches, could “add up to a little more than the sum of his parts.” … The best feel-good story in the organization to open the year might be lefty Miguel Cienfuegos, 26. The Canadian native threw in the Frontier League with Quebec for the last two years before a strong showing in Australia this winter earned him his first contract in affiliated baseball. Cienfuegos worked three scoreless innings Saturday, striking out three while working around a trio of walks. … Offensively, it was a tough night for everyone except for Lucas Dunn, 24 who reached base four times and had one of two TinCaps extra-base hits. Dunn has already appeared at six positions since the Padres drafted him in the eighth round in 2021 and the organization will continue to showcase his versatility this season. … Top prospect Jackson Merrill had a tough opening series, going 0-for-8, but he has yet to strike out.
Kobe Robinson has plenty of upside. (Photo: Jerry Espinoza)
Storm 8, Visalia Oaks 1
Key Statistics: CF Samuel Zavala 0-1, 3 BB, K; LF Tyler Robertson 1-4, BB; DH Griffin Doersching 0-2, 3 BB; 3B Graham Pauley 1-3, 2 BB; 2B Wyatt Hoffman 1-3, BB, 2B; LHP Austin Krob 3.0 IP R, 3 BB, 6 K; RHP Kobe Robinson (W, 1-0) 3.2 IP 3 H, 5 K, LHP Javier Chacon 1.1 IP 2 BB, K; RHP Dyland Nedved 1.0 IP 2 K
Prospect Watch: Despite Wyatt Hoffman‘s double going as the Storm’s lone extra-base hit, Lake Elsinore took advantage of 11 walks issued by Visalia’s pitchers to score five runs and blow open a close game in the seventh. Samuel Zavala and Griffin Doershing drew three free passes each, and Graham Pauley had a pair. … Kobe Robinson, who worked 3.2 scoreless innings with five strikeouts picked up the win. The 22-year-old was particularly impressive this spring, bouncing back from last year’s shoulder injury to show his live fastball. Last year with the Storm, he had 31 strikeouts in 22.2 innings before getting shut down in May. … Austin Krob walked three batters in three innings but also had six strikeouts. The Padres selected him out of Texas Christian in the 12th round last year. The 23-year-old lefty was on draft watch lists in 2021, but after an injury cut his sophomore year short, he decided to return for 2022. Krob returned last spring but had mediocre results despite still showing an intriguing mix that includes a low 90s fastball, a solid slider, and a good changeup. If he stays healthy, he could be an early candidate to move up the ladder.
