San Diego Padres Daily Farm Report: April 5

While the Triple-A level has been underway for a week, the rest of the full-season squads kicked off their respective seasons on Friday night. Aside from an extra-innings loss by the TinCaps, the rest of the farm found the win column on the first whole Friday night of the season. 

Chihuahuas 5, Round Rock Express 4

Key Statistics: 3B Matthew Batten, 2-for-4, 2 R; DH Brett Sullivan, 5-for-5, R, 2B, 3B, 4 RBI; SS Mason McCoy, 1-for-4; LHP Ryan Carpenter, 5.2 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 4 K; Kevin Kopps, 1.1 IP, H, 2 K; LHP Austin Davis (W, 1-0) 0.1 IP

Prospect Watch: El Paso overcame an early, three-run deficit to win on a walk-off double from Brett Sullivan. … The winning hit was the culmination of yet another five-hit night from the veteran backstop who started at designated hitter. The 30-year-old has two five-hit games this season; he came into the year with just one five-hit game in his professional career. Sullivan is off to a 17-for-31 (.548 average) with two doubles, two triples, and a homer. He is tied with teammate Clay Dungan for third in the PCL with 11 RBI. … Matthew Batten had a pair of hits and scored two runs. The versatile infielder hit safely in the first four games before going hitless in the last two. He is off to a .290/.353/—387 start through seven games. … Veteran lefty Ryan Carpenter made his second start of the season, and despite allowing three homers, he kept the club in the game. He worked 5.2 innings and allowed four runs on eight hits, walking four without a strikeout. The 33-year-old signed with the Padres in the off-season after not pitching professionally in 2023. The former Rays draft pick has pitched in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (Taiwan) and KBO (Korea) in Asia in recent years but has not appeared in a big league game since the 2019 season when he was a member of the Detroit Tigers. … After a pair of erratic outings to start the season, Kevin Kopps looked sharp on Friday night. He recorded four outs, allowed one hit, and struck out two without allowing a walk. The former Arkansas reliever walked five in his first two innings. With more outings like this one, the 26-year-old could be an option for the Padres as the season progresses.

Missions 12, Amarillo Sod Poodles 5

Key Statistics: CF Jakob Marsee, 1-for-4, 2 R, HR (1), RBI, BB; 3B Marcos Castañon, 2-for-5, 2 R, 2 2B, BB, 2 RBI; 1B Nathan Martorella, 3-for-6, R, RBI; LF Cole Cummings, 3-for-5, R, BB, RBI, 2 2B, BB, RBI; C Brandon Valenzuela, 3-for-5, R, 2 2B, 3 RBI; 2B Ripken Reyes, 2-for-4, 2 R, SB (1), 2 RBI; RHP Adam Mazur, 5 IP, 2 H, ER, BB, 8 K; RHP Reggie Lawson, 0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB; LHP Austin Krob, IP, 2 K; Woo Suk Go, IP, 2 K

Prospect Watch: This was the tale of two games. Early on, Adam Mazur was locked in on a pitcher’s duel with lefty Yu-Min Lin, the top pitching prospect in the Diamondbacks system. When Lin left after three innings, the Missions used a seven-run fourth inning to blow out the Sod Poodles on opening night. … The first five hitters in the Missions’ order went 12-for-25 with three walks, six doubles, and eight RBI. … Nathan Martorella had three singles and drove in a run. The slugging first baseman is back in Double-A after producing a .695 OPS in 23 games for the Missions last year. … Former UCSB slugger Cole Cummings had a pair of doubles and drew a walk as part of a three-hit night. The 25-year-old struggled for most of the season in Double-A last year before catching fire in September. In 14 games last September, he hit five homers and just six in the first five months of the season. He can play the corner positions, and if he continues to hit, he could be someone to watch. … Catcher Brandon Valenzuela also chipped in with three hits, including a pair of doubles. The 23-year-old got his first crack at Double-A last year and posted a meager .545 OPS in 27 games. While he’s considered a defense-first catcher, he hit 10 homers in 2022 with the TinCaps. He has a good eye at the plate, as evidenced by his .367 career on-base percentage. … As we mentioned in the opening, Adam Mazur dealt early and turned in an outstanding performance. Mazur threw just 56 pitches, 44 for strikes in five innings. He allowed a run on two hits, walking just one while striking out eight. The impeccable control is nothing new for the former Iowa Hawkeye; He issued just 17 free passes in 96 innings between Fort Wayne and San Antonio. Mazur’s eight punchouts tied a career-high he set last year while with the TinCaps. … Woo Suk Go made his organizational debut and struck out a pair of hitters in a scoreless inning. The Korean import struggled this spring and was sent to San Antonio to further his development. With outings like Friday, the 25-year-old may not be in the Alamo City for too long.

Great Lakes Loons 2, TinCaps 1 (11 innings)

Key Statistics: CF Homer Bush Jr., 1-for-5, R, SB (1); C Ethan Salas, 1-for-4, BB, SB (1); RHP Henry Baez, 2 IP, H, 2 BB, 2 K; RHP Tyler Morgan, 3 IP, H, 2 BB, 4 K; RHP Ethan Routzahn, 2 IP, H, BB, 5 K; LHP Mitch Miller (L, 0-1) 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, ER, 2 BB, 3 K

Prospect Watch: On a chilly evening in Midland, Michigan, the TinCaps had plenty of opportunities to score but struggled offensively in a loss to the Dodgers’ High-A affiliate. Fort Wayne went 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position. … After finishing the year in San Antonio, 17-year-old catcher Ethan Salas took a step back to Fort Wayne to begin the 2024 season. He went 1-for-4 with a bloop single, a walk, and a stolen base. … Henry Baez got the opening day start and pitched a pair of scoreless innings. He allowed a hit and a pair of walks before departing after 46 pitches. The right-handed starter was solid with the Storm last season but struggled in a late-season cameo with the TinCaps. The 21-year-old showed excellent stuff last year and should work deeper into the game in his next start. … Righty Tyler Morgan took over for Baez and looked sharp in his three innings of work. He allowed just one hit while walking two and striking out four. The 23-year-old was drafted out of Abilene Christian University in the 14th round last year. … Ethan Routzahn tossed two scoreless innings, striking out five Loons. The 26-year-old is back for his third stint in the Summit City, and while the results have been mixed, he’s been a valuable innings-eater for the TinCaps. Last season, he threw 65.2 innings out of the bullpen, producing a 4.66 ERA.

Storm 11, Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 5

Key Statistics: 1B Romeo Sanabria, 3-for-5, 2 R, 2B; SS Rosman Verdugo, 3-for-5, 2 R, SB (1); DH Nick Vogt, 1-for-2, 2 R, 2 BB, RBI; RHP Miguel Mendez, 2 IP, H, ER, 4 BB, 3 K; RHP Will Varmette (W, 1-0) 2 IP, R, 3 BB, 4 K; RHP Dwayne Matos, 2 IP, 2 K

Prospect Watch: The Storm went 5-for-13 with runners in scoring position, overcoming nine walks and four errors to cruise to a win at The Diamond. … Romeo Sanabria had three hits, including a double in the victory. In 16 games with the Storm last season, the 21-year-old delivered with a .858 OPS. His power potential will be something to watch this season with the Storm. … Shortstop Rosman Verdugo had three hits, scored two runs, and stole home for good measure. The 19-year-old shortstop finished second in the Cal League with 32 doubles last season. As he gains strength, some of those doubles should turn into homers. Manager Lukas Ray praised Verdugo for his maturity in our Storm Season preview. … Righty Miguel Mendez made the start and struggled with command but was able to wiggle out of trouble for the most part. He walked four in his two innings of work, striking out three in the process. Mendez can touch the upper 90s with his heater. … Will Varmette took over for Mendez and earned his first professional win. Like Mendez, Varmette struggled with free passes, allowing three in his two innings of work. The 6-foot-2 righty signed with the Padres last year as an undrafted free agent out of Wallace State Community College in Alabama. He appeared in six games for the Storm last year, striking out 11 batters in six innings.