San Diego Padres Daily Farm Report: April 30

Chihuahuas 13, Oklahoma City Comets 4

Key Stats: LHP Wes Benjamin 4.2 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 4 K, BB; RHP Sean Reynolds (W, 1-0) 1.1 IP, BB; RHP Francis Pena IP, H, 2 BB, K; C Luis Campusano 1-for-3, HR (6), 2 RBI, 2 BB, E (2); LF Tim Locastro 3-for-4, 3 R, 2 RBI, 2B, HBP; CF Bryce Johnson 3-for-5, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI; RF Yonathan Perlaza 2-for-5, 3 RBI; 3B Mike Brosseau 1-for-3, HR (2), 3 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB

Luis Campusano continues to pound the PCL: Photo: Jorge Salgado.

Prospect Watch: The Chihuahuas faced Clayton Kershaw as he continued his latest rehab assignment. He threw 66 pitches over five innings and maxed out at 89.1 mph. He cruised until he gave up an absolute no-doubt home run to Luis Campusano. The ball was the hardest hit by a Chihuahua all night, with an exit velocity of 109.1 mph. His day behind the plate wasn’t nearly as good as he gave up five stolen bases and committed an error. Offensively, though, the 26-year-old is has been exceptional, hitting .318/.434/.600 on the season, including 11 extra-base hits in 24 games. He had two more walks to push his season total to 18 against only 15 strikeouts on the season. … The other home run off of Kershaw came courtesy of Mike Brosseau. The 31-year-old third baseman’s home run only left the bat at 97.3 mph, but it tied the score and chased Kershaw from the game.  In his first year in the Padres’ organization, Brosseau is hitting .241/.333/.414.  … Once Kershaw left, the offense exploded against The Chihuahuas scored 10 runs over the final four innings for the commanding win.  Tim Locastro and Bryce Johnson both had three hits, scored multiple times, and drove in multiple runs.  In eight games with El Paso, Locastro is hitting .360/.484/.720, barely edging out Johnson’s .368/.429/.526 line in nine games. … Often, the last two hurdles for a reliever to pass before rejoining a big-league team from a rehab assignment are throwing more than one inning and pitching back-to-back days. Sean Reynolds accomplished the first Wednesday.  While it was the first time Reynolds had thrown in five days, he retired four batters for the first time.  Reynolds, who typically throws in the upper 90s, topped out at 95.8 mph and did not generate a whiff. Last year, his average velocity in the majors was 96.9 mph.

Braden Nett continues to flash stellar stuff on the mound. (Photo: Rey Holguin)

Corpus Christi Hooks 8, Missions 2

Key Stats: RHP Braden Nett 4.2 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 4 BB, 5 K; C Anthony Vilar 2-for-4, RBI; RF Joshua Mears 1-for-4, RBI; LF Moisés Gómez 1-for-3, R, BB

Prospect Watch:  After allowing two earned runs over his first three starts, hard-throwing Braden Nett has allowed 11 earned runs over his last two starts.  Tonight, he struggled to locate his fastball consistently.  He would either miss wildly or throw it down the middle and watch it get hit hard.  Of the 84 pitches he threw, 33 were balls.  The four walks were the most he has allowed this year, and he now has 11 walks and 25 strikeouts in 19.2 innings. … After Tuesday’s contest stayed scoreless until the ninth, the Missions again struggled for offense with their best offensive threat, Romeo Sanabria on the bench. The first baseman, who’s hitting .333/.366/.500, has not appeared in a game since April 26. He remains on the active list, but is dealing with an ankle issue. … The only multi-hit game came from the catcher Anthony Vilar. With Valenzuela and Salas taking on most of the catching duties, the 26-year-old has spent most of the year at second and shortstop.  The veteran had his first multi-hit game in two weeks and has tied his longest on-base streak this year at five.

Leo De Vries is El Mutante at the plate. (Photo: Fort Wayne TinCaps)

TinCaps 8, Dayton Dragons 3

Key Stats: SS Leo De Vries 2-for-3, 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB, E (7); C Brenden Durfee 0-for-3, 2 R, BB, HBP; DH Rosman Verdugo 1-for-3, HR (5), RBI, BB; RHP Clark Candiotti 2.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, ER, 4 BB, 3 K; RHP Josh Mallitz 3.1 IP, BB, 3 K; RHP Tyson Neighbors IP, 2 K

Prospect Watch: Leo De Vries followed up his second run at a cycle in a week by reaching base another three times Wednesday. De Vries now leads the Midwest League with a 1.003 OPS. His third inning showed exactly why expectations are so high – and why he needs more time. With two outs and two Dragons runners on in the top of the third, De Vries fielded a bounding ball up the middle. He bobbled the transfer and then threw late for the force and everyone was safe. Two unearned runs scored, chasing starter Clark Candiotti from the game.  All would be quickly forgiven as De Vries came up in the bottom of the inning and hit a booming double off the wall in left to drive in two and tie the game. … That final run allowed in the third would be the last run of the game for Dayton as the TinCap bullpen of Josh Mallitz (3.1 IP), Nick Wissman (2 IP), and Tyson Neighbors (IP) combined to allow one baserunner over the last 6.1 innings.  For Neighbors, it was his first clean inning since being drafted. While his 18 strikeouts in 9.2 innings are fantastic, he has walked six and has hit two batters this season. Wednesday was just the third time in eight appearances that the former Kansas State closer did not walk a batter. Dayton batters appeared so geared up for his upper-90s fastball that they struggled on any offspeed pitch thrown. … For Mallitz, it was a return to form.  The 23-year-old did not allow a run over his first three appearances (5.1 innings), striking out eight.  He would allow 15 runs over his next three outings before righting the ship in this one. The outing lowered his ERA from 12.27 to 9.42. … The first run of the game came courtesy of Rosman Verdugo‘s team-leading fifth home run of the season, a 105 mph no-doubter to the concourse in left field. The 20-year-old now finds himself second in the league in home runs.  The Ensenada native might just really like hitting with De Vries. During De Vries ‘ torrid stretch, Verdugo hit .341/.444/.537 last year in Lake Elsinore, before cooling down after De Vries hit the IL.  His .848 OPS is second on the team.

Storm 8, Inland Empire 66ers 0

Key Statistics: CF Kasen Wells 3-for-4, 3 R, BB, 2 SB (16), 2 RBI; SS Ryan Jackson 1-for-3, 2B, RBI, 2 BB, SB (6); 3B Zach Evans 2-for-4, RBI, BB; RHP Sam Whiting 4 IP, H, 2 K; RHP Maikel Miralles 5 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 5 K

Prospect Watch: Our fearless Kevin Charity has all the details from Sam Whiting‘s 2025 debut and Kasen Wells‘ continued success at the top of the lineup.