PEORIA –Another day with temperatures over 100 led to another day of diminished on-field activities. With the Spring Breakout group getting ready to head across the Phoenix metro area to play the Cubs in Tempe, the organization had only one intrasquad game in Peoria, featuring a pair of mix-and-match lineups that included players trying to make rosters at all four levels.
The highlight came on the mound, where Jagger Haynes and Bryan Balzer covered four innings each. Haynes, 23, coming off his first stint in big league spring training, ran his fastball up to 94 and showed good armside run. The curve he’s been working on over the last two years flashed once or twice, but generally stayed out of the zone.
“I am making more of an intention to throw it,” said Haynes. “The key is to build that foundation and trust with it. That has been my goal, and my work this spring training has been to build and hammer all five pitches. Not just in bullpens or catch-play, but in games.”
Bryan Balzer has added a new split-finger fastball in 2026. (Photo: Jerry Espinoza)
Balzer, who remains something of an enigma three years after signing as an international free agent out of high school in Japan, sat around 97 mph early in the outing and dialed it up to with his fastball, but faded some in his final frame, when he was closer to 94-95. The 21-year-old, who is starting to grow into a pitcher’s frame, showed off a few stellar sliders, but also had several that were completely uncompetitive. He is looking more confident in his splitter.
Balzer’s stuff had him as a favorite breakout candidate for many system watchers last year, but he struggled badly in Lake Elsinore. He should be back in the Cal League to open the year.
Jeferson Villabona got a pair of innings to open for the other squad and sat in the mid-90s. The Venezuelan, who looks to be about 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds at this point, worked 19 short-burst outings in the Dominican Summer League last year after signing his first contract in the spring at the unlikely age of 24. The righty will likely head to Lake Elsinore in a swing role as he is very much on the clock because of his late signing date.
…
The position player group ranged from minor league free agent signees Samad Taylor and Leandro Cedeño, both looking to join El Paso this year, to undrafted free agent signees Conner Westenburg and Qrey Lott, who are in the mix to make their professional debuts in the outfield for Lake Elsinore. Both are athletic and have shown the ability to run down balls in the gaps.
…
Brothers Luis Verdugo and Rosman Verdugo were on the same squad, making up half the infield. Luis, who signed as a minor league free agent in the winter, played at Double-A and Triple-A in the Phillies system last year. More comfortable in the middle infield than his brother, who is nearly four-and-a-half years younger, Luis could be at either level to open the year in the Padres organization. Rosman, now 21 years old, has been a fixture in the Padres system since 2022. He will likely return to Fort Wayne to open the year, looking to make more consistent contact.
The Padres seem to have the market cornered on Verdugos. In addition to the brothers from the Baja California peninsula, they have fellow infielder Jose Verdugo, who was part of the Spring Breakout roster, and veteran outfielder Alex Verdugo. Now 29 years old, Alex signed a pure minor league deal after hitting for the Padres in late February. He could earn a spot in El Paso.
