Oklahoma City Comets 11, Chihuahuas 6
Key Statistics: RF Oscar González, 1-for-3, HR (3), 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 BB, SB (1); CF Tirso Ornelas, 1-for-3, R, BB; 2B Clay Dungan, 1-for-2, R, HR (1) 2 BB, 2 RBI; RHP Jared Kollar (L, 0-2) 3.2 IP, 6 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, K; RHP Raul Brito, 1.1 IP, 3 H, ER, BB, 3 K; LHP Jason Blanchard, IP, H, K
Clay Dungan reached base four times against OKC and hit his first home run of the year on Friday. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Prospect Watch: The Chihuahuas lost their fourth straight at the hands of the top affiliate of the arch-rival Dodgers. … Despite the four straight losses, Oscar González has enjoyed his time in Oklahoma City. Gonzalez reached base three times, including his third homer of the series. After going 1-for-14 in his first three games of the season, he is 5-for-12 with three homers, a double, and 6 RBI over his last three. As we mentioned yesterday, the 27-year-old was added to the 40-man roster, which provides an intriguing depth option should the Padres need another outfield bat. … Former minor league Rule 5 draft pick Clay Dungan also reached base three times with two walks and his first homer of 2025. The former Royals farmhand has seen the Chihuahuas add a pair of infielders with major league experience this week, with the additions of Tyler Wade and Eguy Rosario to the El Paso roster, so playing time may not be as plentiful for the 28-year-old. Dungan produced a .796 OPS for El Paso last season, and through seven games this season, he has also produced a .796 OPS. … For the second straight start, Jared Kollar was roughed up early and took the loss. The undrafted free agent pitcher allowed six runs on six hits, walking two and striking out one. Kollar had a solid season last year in Double-A but has struggled early in his first voyage through the PCL. In his first two starts, Kollar has allowed 11 runs on 12 hits in just 6.2 innings – good for a 14.85 ERA.
Jagger Haynes made his Double-A debut Friday night.. (Photo: San Antonio Missions)
Missions 5, Amarillo Sod Poodles 4
Key Statistics: LF Moisés Goméz, 3-for-4, R; DH Marcos Castañon, 1-for-3, R, RBI; 3B Devin Ortiz, 2-for-3, R, HR (1), 2 RBI; LHP Jagger Haynes, 2.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, ER, 2 BB, 4 K; LHP Jackson Wolf (W, 1-0) IP, 2 H; LHP Ryan Och, IP, 2 K; RHP David Morgan, IP, 2 K; RHP Bradgley Rodriguez (S, 1) IP, H, BB, K
Prospect Watch: The Missions scored four runs in the fourth inning and defeated Amarillo on opening night at Wolff Stadium. … Power-hitting outfielder Moisés Goméz made his organizational debut on Friday and celebrated the occasion with three singles. The 26-year-old signed with the Padres as a minor league free agent. He last played with the Kansas City Monarchs of the independent American Association. In 2022, the Venezuela native slammed 39 homers between Double-A and Triple-A. He followed that up in 2023 with 30 homers for Triple-A Memphis in the Cardinals organization. After a slow start in 2024, he was released. Despite the power he’s shown in the upper minors, Goméz has consistently struck out in over 30% of his plate appearances, including a 33.5% mark last year. It’s easy to see why the Padres were intrigued by Goméz’s power and potential, but his swing-and-miss tendencies will need to improve to tap into it in game action. … Third baseman Devin Ortiz had a pair of hits, including his first Double-A homer. The 26-year-old out of Virginia produced roughly league-average offense last year for Fort Wayne in his first full professional season while playing solid defense at the hot corner. He signed with the Padres as an undrafted free agent in 2023. … Lefty Jagger Haynes started opening night amid steady rain and struggled with command. The North Carolina native and remaining Padres’ 2020 draft class member allowed two runs (one earned) in 2.2 innings. He walked two and struck out four, generating seven swing-and-misses. The 22-year-old tossed a career-high 110.2 innings for the TinCaps last season. … As noted in our season preview, the back end of the Missions’ bullpen has the potential to contribute to the big league squad in the near future. They showed it Friday, beginning as Ryan Och pitched a scoreless seventh inning, striking out two. Och, 26, struck out nearly 35% of the hitters he faced in the Texas League last season. The funky left-hander doesn’t throw hard, but his ability to miss bats as a left-handed reliever gives him a chance. … David Morgan followed with the eighth inning and also struck out a pair of Sod Poodles. The former junior college shortstop/center fielder was converted to pitching after signing with the Padres as a non-drafted free agent. The Orange County native who grew up a Padres fan featured a fastball that reached 98 mph. … Finally, Bradgley Rodriguez pitched a scoreless ninth to notch the save. Rodriguez allowed a hit and a walk, but also struck out one. Rodriguez broke out last season, starting with the Storm, and earned a big league camp invite in spring training this season. Between Lake Elsinore, Fort Wayne, and San Antonio, Rodriguez struck out 75 batters in 61.1 innings.
TinCaps 5, Lansing Lugnuts 0
Leo De Vries connects during the rain on opening night. (Photo: Adam Gaddy)
Key Statistics: SS Leo De Vries, 2-for-4, 2 R, SB (1); LF Jack Costello, 2-for-4, R, 2 RBI; C Brendan Durfee, 1-for-4; RHP Enmanuel Pinales, 3.2 IP, 2 H, 3 BB, 4 K; RHP Tyler Morgan (W, 1-0), 1.1 IP, K; RHP Nick Wissman, IP, H, K; LHP Harry Gustin, 2 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 2 K; RHP Tyson Neighbors, IP, 2 BB, 2 K
Prospect Watch: April baseball in the Midwest League can be treacherous. Friday was a perfect example; the first pitch temperature was 47 degrees with rain. Despite the cold and soggy conditions, the TinCaps scored five runs in the first two innings to cruise to a win on opening night in Northeastern Indiana. … Shortstop Leo De Vries made his High-A debut and impressed. He had a pair of singles and added a stolen base. He also struck out twice, although he was punched out via a pitch clock violation when he failed to return to the box on time. The young infielder is being challenged in the brutal cold of the Midwest League, but he rose to the occasion on day one. … Jack Costello picked up offensively where he left off last year with a pair of hits and two RBI. The former USD infielder, the Padres’ 10th-round pick last summer, racked up an OPS over .900 in his pro debut with the Storm. In 125 plate appearances as a professional, Costello has struck out just eight times. … The TinCaps scored all five runs off Gage Jump, the Athletics’ Comp B pick from last year. If the name sounds familiar, it’s because the Padres drafted him in the 18th round of the 2021 draft as a fallback option if they couldn’t come to an agreement with James Wood. The lefty from Orange County chose to attend college instead of signing a contract with the Padres. … On the pitching side, Enmanuel Pinales kept the Lugnuts off the scoreboard despite not having great command. The righty struggled to land his low-90s fastball in the cold and rain and escaped unscathed despite walking three batters in 3.2 innings. Pinales helped his cause by striking out four. The 23-year-old hurler had a good season for the TinCaps last season, pitching to a 3.49 ERA in 22 games (21 starts). … Righty Tyson Neighbors made his High-A debut and struggled early, walking two batters in the ninth. He was able to bounce back, notching a pair of strikeouts to preserve the shutout. The Padres drafted the reliever in the fourth round out of Kansas State last July and have been impressed by his advanced approach to pitch design.
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 16, Storm 9
Key Statistics: C Lamar King Jr., 2-for-4, 2 R, HR (1), 4 RBI; SS B.Y. Choi, 1-for-3, 2 BB; LF Spence Coffman, 1-for-3, 2 R, BB, RBI; RHP Maikel Miralles (L, 0-1) 3 IP, 4 H, 4 R (3 ER), 3 BB, 3 K; RHP Carson Swilling, 1.1 IP, 3 H, 4 R (3 ER), 2 K; RHP Vicarte Domingo, 1.1 IP, H, ER, 3 BB, 3 K
Prospect Watch: The Storm hit the road and lost an ugly one in Rancho Cucamonga. David Jay has all the grisly details in his game story from the road.
