Tacoma Rainiers 8, Chihuahuas 1
Key Statistics: LF Bryce Johnson 1-for-3, BB, SB (8); DH Tim Locastro 2-for-3, R, HR (3), RBI, BB, 2 SB (5, 6); CF Forrest Wall 1-for-3, 2 SB (8, 9); RHP Ryan Bergert 3 IP, 2 H, BB, 3 K; LHP Austin Krob 2 IP, 2 H, K; RHP Francis Peña (L, 1-1) 0.1 IP, 2 H, 4 ER, 2 BB; RHP Raul Brito 0.2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, K, BB
Tim Locastro’s speed plays well for the Chihuahuas. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Prospect Watch: El Paso held a 1-0 lead entering the sixth, but the Rainiers scored seven runs in the sixth to turn this one into a route. The Chihuahuas had just four hits. … Tim Locastro had two of the hits, as the veteran notched a single and connected on his third dinger of the season. He also added a pair of stolen bases, giving him six in 16 games this season. The 32-year-old veteran signed a minor league pact with the Padres for the second consecutive off-season after missing most of 2024 with a shoulder injury. The speedy outfielder is again off to a hot start, hitting .346/.460/.673. … Left fielder Bryce Johnson reached base twice with a single and a walk. He also swiped a bag – his eighth of the year. The former Padres outfielder rejoined the organization in mid-April after beginning the year with the Pirates system. In 25 games for El Paso, the 29-year-old is hitting .301/.437/.458 with a pair of homers. … Ryan Bergert made the start for the Chihuahuas and pitched well in his three innings of work. Bergert sat at 93-94 with his fastball, topping out at 95. After spending a few weeks in the Padres’ bullpen, Bergert has been working on a six-day starting schedule in Triple-A, maxing out at 55 pitches, a pattern that leaves him available to rejoin the bullpen on short notice if needed. Over his three appearances back in El Paso, the former West Virginia pitcher has allowed just two runs in 9.2 innings. … It was a rough evening for Francis Peña, who faced five batters and was charged with four runs. The hard-throwing righty opened his inning with a walk to Cole Young before fellow top-100 prospect Harry Ford smoked a homer to center. Peña issued a second walk and took a line drive off his backside for a single before giving way. He only landed 11 of his 23 pitches in the strike zone.
Missions 2, Wichita Wind Surge 1
Key Statistics: C Brandon Valenzuela, 1-for-4, R, 2B; DH Devin Ortiz, 1-for-4, SB (6); CF Kai Murphy, 1-for-3; RHP Sam Whiting, 4.1 IP, 2 H, 6 K; RHP Bryan Hoeing (W, 1-0) IP, H, 2 K; RHP Jose Espada (S, 2) 1.1 IP, H, 2 K
Sam Whiting is finding his footing with the Missions. (Rey Holguin)
Prospect Watch: The Missions notched just three hits but the pitching staff threw a three-hitter of their own, outlasting the Wind Surge at home. The winning run scored in the sixth inning on an error. … After going 5-for-6 last Friday, Brandon Valenzuela was hitless in each of his next three games. However, he now appears to be breaking out of the mini-slump. After having a pair of hits on Thursday, Valenzuela added a double in four plate appearances on Friday. The switch-hitting catcher should be in the conversation for Texas League Player of the Month for his work in 18 games this month, hitting .368/.442/.529. … Sam Whiting made his first start and pitched very well, allowing just two hits as he worked into the fifth inning. He struck out a season-high six and did not allow a walk. The former UC Santa Barbara starter had followed Enmanuel Pinales in each of his first three outings for San Antonio since coming off an injured list stint to open the year as he recovered from a core injury sustained at the end of last season. Whiting generally fills the zone – he has walked two batters or less in four of his five outings this year. … Bryan Hoeing made another rehab appearance, tossing a scoreless inning. He allowed one hit and struck out a pair of Wichita hitters. Hoeing has tossed once every three days this week, working one inning at a time. While he is technically eligible to come of the IL, it seems likely the organization will want him to pitch in multiple innings before activating him. … Braden Nett was originally slated to start Friday but was scratched. As of press time, there has not been an update on his status. …
TinCaps 6, Cedar Rapids Kernels 2 (Game 1, 7 Innings)
Key Statistics: C Brendan Durfee, 2-for-3, 2 R, 2B, RBI; 2B Brandon Butterworth, 1-for-3, R, 3B, 2 RBI; RF Jacob Campbell, 2-for-3, R, HR (2), 2 RBI; RHP Jose Luis Reyes, 4 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 7 K; RHP Josh Mallitz (W, 2-1) 2 IP, H, BB, 3 K; RHP Tyson Neighbors, IP, H, 3 K
TinCaps 9, Cedar Rapids Kernels 3 (Game 2, 7 Innings)
Key Statistics: SS Brandon Butterworth, 2-for-4, 2 R, 3B, 3 RBI; LF Kaden Hollow, 2-for-3, R, 3B, 2 RBI; 2B Rosman Verdugo, 1-for-3, R, BB, RBI; RHP Miguel Mendez, 4.1 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 9 K; LHP Fernando Sanchez (W, 1-1) 0.2 IP, K; RHP Garrett Hawkins, IP, K.
Prospect Watch: The TinCaps swept a doubleheader to climb back above .500. John Conniff is on-site in Fort Wayne with all the details.
Visalia Rawhide 1, Storm 0
Key Statistics: 1B Victor Figueroa 1-for-4, 2B; CF Ryan Wilson 1-for-2, BB; RF B.Y. Choi 1-for-3, 2B; LHP Boston Bateman (L, 2-3) 4 IP, 3 H, ER, 3 BB, 5 K; RHP Abraham Parra 2 IP, H, 3 BB, 3 K; RHP Tucker Musgrove 2 IP, 4 K
Boston Bateman delivers in his first professional start. (Photo: Robert Escalante)
Prospect Watch: The Rawhide scored on a bases-loaded walk in the second inning, then made it hold up to beat the Storm for the third straight night. … After posting comical numbers in the ACL, Victor Figueroa has continued to hit in the Cal League. After a double in four plate appearances on Friday, the 21-year-old slugger has hit safely in all four games since joining Lake Elsinore. The Florida native went hitless in his pro debut but has since hit safely in each of his last 14 games. In four games with the Storm, Figueroa is hitting .353/.389/.647. … After missing his turn last week with illness and an abbreviated outing last Sunday, big lefty Boston Bateman got back to his standard spot in the rotation. The 19-year-old battled his command a bit, walking three in four innings, but he flashed premium stuff, striking out five. Bateman has a 3.57 ERA in four May outings. He’s struck out 17 batters in 17.2 innings. … Tucker Musgrove pitched two scoreless innings, striking out four. Musgrove has not allowed a run in four of his five outings this season, but one poor outing in which he allowed five runs without recording an out, leaves him with a 6.14 ERA. The 23-year-old, a seventh-round out on Mobile University’s NAIA program in 2023, Musgrove had Tommy John surgery almost two years ago.
ACL Padres 6, ACL Angels 0
Key Statistics: 3B Eguy Rosario, 1-for-4, R; CF Donte Grant, 2-for-4, 2 R, RBI, 2B; 1B Yoiber Ocopio, 3-for-4, R; OF Jesmaylin Arias, 1-for-4, R, HR (1), RBI; RHP Cole Paplham, IP, K; LHP Yovannki Pasqual IP; RHP Winyer Chourio (W, 2-1) 4 IP, 5 H, 4 K; RHP Jordan Valenzuela, 2 IP, H, BB, 3 K
Yoiber Ocopio locks in on an offering. (Photo: Jerry Espinoza)
Prospect Watch: The ACL Padres rode five pitchers to a shutout of the Angels. … Righty Cole Paplham, 25, pitched a scoreless rehab inning to start the game, striking out a batter. The hard-throwing reliever has made a pair of outings in the desert as he makes his way back from facial fractures that he sustained on a comebacker in spring training. Lefty Yovannki Pascual followed with a clean inning in his first appearance in over a month. The 22-year-old opened the year with Lake Elsinore, but was shut down and transferred back to the desert on April 22 rather than being put on the IL. … Winyer Chourio worked the bulk of the game, pitching four innings. He allowed five hits, but didn’t walk anyone and struck out four to avoid any damage. After an ugly outing in his first appearance with the ACL bunch, the 21-year-old has allowed just one earned run in nine innings over his last two appearances. He’s struck out nine against one walk in 12 innings of work. … Eguy Rosario, playing at third base, had a single in four at-bats, but also punched out three times. The 25-year-old has been working in the ACL as part of a reset after a miserable start to the season that included Rosario being DFA’ed at the beginning of the season. In five games in the desert, Rosario is hitting .235/.316/.294. … Yoiber Ocopio started at first base and had three hits – all singles – in the victory to tie a career-high. The 20-year-old spent two years in the DSL, posting an .823 OPS last year. In 10 games this season, he has posted a .697 OPS for the ACL squad.
