San Diego Padres Daily Farm Report: May 9

Chihuahuas 4, Round Rock Express 3

Key Statistics: RF Oscar González, 2-for-5, R, RBI; C Luis Campusano, 2-for-3, R, HR (7), 2 RBI, BB; 2B Clay Dungan, 2-for-3, BB, 3B, RBI; LHP Kyle Hart, 5 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K; RHP Kevin Kopps, IP, BB, K; RHP Reiss Knehr (W, 2-2) IP, BB

Prospect Watch: The Chihuahuas fell behind 3-0 before scoring the final four runs to walk off the Express. … In his first game since the Padres optioned him back to Triple-A, Oscar González delivered the walk-off single to give El Paso the victory. González had a pair of singles in five plate appearances for his fourth multi-hit game in eight Triple-A games. He posted a paltry .483 OPS in 21 games with the Padres. … Luis Campusano also had two hits, including his seventh homer with the Chihuahuas to pull within one of the league lead and extend his circuit-leading OPS to 1.088. He had a brief stint with the big league club in which he went hitless in 10 plate appearances, although he did draw four walks. For now, Campusano will await his next big league opportunity. He’s already proven to be a PCL world-beater but has not enjoyed the same success in San Diego. … Lefty Kyle Hart turned in a nice start for the Chihuahuas, pitching five strong innings. He allowed two runs on four hits, walking three and striking out four. He also picked off a pair of runners to help mitigate damage. The 32-year-old former KBO star began his season in the Padres’ rotation but has seemingly been lapped on the organizational ladder by Stephen Kolek, who was promoted last week when the Padres needed a fifth starter. Hart has pitched well since being demoted, sporting a 2,70 ERA but he’s walked eight batters in 9.2 innings. 

Roster Moves: The Padres made a trade before Friday’s game, sending outfielder Connor Joe to the Cincinnati Reds. Joe was originally in the lineup for El Paso, but was scratched shortly before the game. The 32-year-old hit .267/.405/.350 in 16 games for the Chihuahuas, and was hitless during a seven-game stint with the Padres. … Coming back with cash in the deal is right-hander Andrew Moore. Moore, 25, was originally drafted by the Mariners in 2021 in the 14th round. He was traded to Cincinnati as part of the Luis Castillo trade. This season, Moore appeared in six games for Double-A Chattanooga, pitching to a 4.15 ERA in 8.2 innings. He is not on the 40-player roster and seems likely to join the Missions this weekend. 

Frisco RoughRiders 4, Missions 3

Key Statistics: 1B Brandon Valenzuela, 2-for-3, 2 BB, 2B, RBI; SS-RF Ripken Reyes, 1-for-3, 2 R, 2B, BB; 3B Devin Ortiz, 1-for-4; LHP Jagger Haynes, 5.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, ER, 2 BB, 6 K; LHP Fernando Sanchez (L, 0-1) IP, H, 2 R, ER, BB, K 

Prospect Watch: The Missions had nine hits but left 10 runners on base, losing a close game at home to Frisco. … Brandon Valenzuela had another nice day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a single, a double, and two walks. After a slow April, Valenzuela has been one of the hottest hitters in all of minor league baseball in May. In seven games this month, the switch-hitting catcher and occasional first baseman is hitting a sizzling .480/.581/.720, with two doubles, a homer, and five walks. Valenzuela has taken advantage of the extra playing time afforded to him with Ethan Salas on the injured list. The Hermosillo, Mexico is making a case to be in the organization’s plans for the catcher position in 2025 and beyond. … Lefty Jagger Haynes turned in a nice start, working into the sixth inning but he did not factor in the decision. He allowed two runs (one earned) in 5.2 innings, walking two and striking out six. The North Carolina native has been a bit inconsistent this year but he has still managed to strike out more than a batter per inning. In his last two starts, Haynes has struck out 15 batters in 10.1 innings. Overall in seven starts, Haynes has a 4.15 ERA.

TinCaps 8, South Bend Cubs 4

Key Statistics: 2B Rosman Verdugo, 2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI; LF Jake Snider, 2-for-4, 2 R, RBI, SB (3); C Oswaldo Linares, 3-for-4, 2 2B, RBI; RHP Miguel Mendez (W, 1-0) 5 IP, 3 H, 7 K; LHP Bodi Rascon, 2 IP, H, 2 BB, K

Prospect Watch: The TinCaps scored five runs in the sixth inning to open up an 8-0 lead that they would not relinquish. … Rosman Verdugo had a pair of hits, including a double, and drove in a pair of runs in the victory. The 20-year-old from Baja California has been one of the most prolific sluggers in the Midwest League this season. His .528 slugging percentage ranks second in the league, just behind league leader Leo De Vries, at .547. He’s also part of a four-way tie for the league lead with six homers. With the power comes a glaring lack of contact. Verdugo has the fourth-highest strikeout percentage in the league at 37%. Verdugo’s growth has been apparent, as just two years ago he struggled to put the ball in the air while in Lake Elsinore. However, Verdugo still needs to refine his approach to allow his power to play at the next level. … Catcher Oswaldo Linares, who came into Friday’s game with just two hits all season, had a big night with three hits, including a pair of doubles. . The 22-year-old Venezuelan backstop has struggled offensively throughout his time in the system, although he did have a 15% walk-rate with the Storm last season. Friday marked Linares’ first three-hit game since August 24 of last year, while playing in the Cal League. … Righty Miguel Mendez made his first High-A start and looked dominant in earning the win. The 22-year-old pitched five innings, allowing just three hits. He struck out seven without allowing a walk. Mendez, who opened his season with Lake Elsinore as he worked back from a foot injury, has shown much better command in a small sample this season. That, coupled with a high-90s fastball, makes him one of the more interesting pitchers in the system. In 16.1 innings between Fort Wayne and Lake Elsinore, Mendez has struck out 25 batters while walking just four. 

San Jose Giants 16, Storm 3

Key Statistics: SS Cobb Hightower, 2-for-4, R, 3B, 2 RBI; CF Kasen Wells, 1-for-4, RBI, SB (21); LF Kaden Hollow, 1-for-3, 2 R, BB; RHP Kleiber Olmedo (L, 0-2) 3.1 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 2 K; RHP Tucker Musgrove 0.0 IP, 2 H, 5 ER, 3 BB

Prospect Watch: The Storm pitching staff struggled early and often as Lake Elsinore lost big on the road in San Jose. … Cobb Hightower had a nice night at the plate, producing the first multi-hit effort of his young career. Hightower singled and tripled Friday, adding a pair of RBI for good measure. In 23 plate appearances, Hightower has walked six times while striking out just twice. … Kaden Hollow reached base twice with a single and a walk and has now hit safely in seven of eight games this month. In those eight games, the former Utah Tech catcher is hitting .310/.355/.379. … Kleiber Olmedo made his first appearance in two weeks for the Storm and he struggled mightily. The 20-year-old, who had a brief stint on the development list and then a week in the Arizona Complex League after his last outing, allowed five runs on seven hits, lasting just 3.1 innings. He allowed three extra-base hits, including a homer. The poor outing left Olmedo with a 9.88 ERA this season as opponents are hitting .333.

ACL Rangers 8, ACL Padres 3 (7 innings) 

ey Statistics: CF Donte Grant, 1-for-3, 3B; 1B Victor Figueroa, 2-for-3, R, HR (1), 3 RBI; DH Kale Fountain, 1-for-3, 2B; RHP Luis Maracara (L, 0-1) 3 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, K; RHP Dariel Polanco, 3 IP, H, BB, 2 K

Prospect Watch: The ACL Padres lost again Friday night, dropping to 1-4 on the young season. … First baseman Victor Figueroa had another nice night at the plate, going 2-for-3 with his first professional homer in the loss. The 21-year-old, listed at 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds, is off to a .500/.550/1.000 start after showing plenty of power playing at the junior college level. In his final season at Florida Southwestern College, Figueroa hit 17 homers and drove in 79 runs. He was the Padres’ 18th-round pick last season. … Kale Fountain started once again at designated hitter and had a double in three plate appearances. Fountain has swung the bat well early on in his pro career. Through four games in the ACL, the former fifth-rounder is 5-for-10. … Righty Luis Maracara made his second start of the season and struggled, taking his first stateside loss. The 17-year-old allowed eight hits and five earned runs in three innings of work to raise his ERA to 7.50. The Venezuelan righty made his professional debut for the DSL squad last year, pitching to a 3.18 ERA in 11 games (10 starts).