Tacoma Rainiers 3, Chihuahuas 1
Matt Waldron has looked strong in his first two rehab appearances. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Key Stats: CF Jase Bowen 2-for-4, 2 2B; Sung-Mun Song 0-for-2, 2 BB; RHP Matt Waldron 4 IP, 3 H, 6 K; RHP Sean Boyle 2 IP, H, 2 K; LHP Jackson Wolf 2 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 3 K
Prospect Watch: Both offenses were largely held in check on a cool, damp night in the Pacific Northwest, but the hosts rallied for three runs in the seventh to claim the victory in a game that lasted just over two hours. Making his second rehab start, Matt Waldron again looked impressive, tossing four scoreless innings while striking out six. Working on four days’ rest, the 29-year-old only used his knuckle ball on 15 of 61 offerings, hitting the usage range the organization has been looking for from him. He got a 40% whiff rate with the pitch, and set up his fastball and sinker – both sitting 90-92 mph – effectively enough that Tacoma hitters took a called strike 14 of the 25 times those two pitches were in the zone. Waldron hasn’t allowed a run through seven innings. He threw 61 total pitches, so he’ll likely make one more start before the big league club has to decide whether to slot him into the rotation or risk exposing him to waivers and an almost-certain claim. … Batting in the leadoff spot, Jase Bowen had a pair of loud doubles, collecting four of the offense’s seven total bases on the night. Bowen hit a screaming 110 mph line drive to the gap in left-center on the first pitch of the night from long-time Padres farmhand Gabe Mosser, He then lined an 0-2 pitch the other way to leg out another two-bagger in his next at-bat. The toolsy 25-year-old outfielder got his first taste of Triple-A competition last year, hitting .294/.386/.484 for the Pirates’ Indianapolis affiliate. … Interestingly, Mosser has begun to work a knuckle ball into his repertoire. He used it six times on the night.
Tulsa Drillers 5 Missions 1
Key Stats: 3B Luis Verdugo 2-for-3, HR (1); C Ethan Salas 1-for-4, K; 2B Ryan Jackson 1-for-3, BB; RHP Victor Lizarraga 5 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2, K, 6 BB; LHP Harry Gustin 1.1 IP, 2 H, ER, K
Prospect Watch: Missions pitchers walked 10 as San Antonio dropped a sloppy opening night contest to the Dodgers’ Texas League affiliate. Righty Victor Lizarraga, back to begin his third straight season at Double-A, worked around a first inning free pass, but loaded the bases on three straight bases on balls to open the second. He bounced back a bit, managing to work five innings and give up just two runs, but the 22-year-old was nibbling all night. The San Diego native has seen his walk rate creep up each of the last three years, and has never been able to find a velocity bump that most observers projected when he was getting solid results as a teenager in full-season ball. … Ethan Salas started his 2026 campaign by slashing a first-pitch fastball from Dodgers left-handed prospect Luke Fox the other way for a single, but didn’t reach base again on the night. Salas was in the two-hole for the Missions to open the season. … System newcomer Luis Verdugo had an impressive debut, connecting on a homer for the club’s only run of the night and finishing 2-for-3. The older brother of TinCaps third baseman Rosman, Verdugo signed in the offseason after spending last year in the Phillies organization. The 25-year-old has just a .238/.304/.351 line through seven minor league seasons.
Storm 7, Ontario Tower Buzzers 5
Key Stats: CF Ryan Wideman 2-for-3, BB, HBP, 2 2B, 2 SB (2), 2 CS (2); SS Jose Quintana 0-for-2, 3 BB; C Ty Harvey 1-for-3, 2B, 2 BB, 3 RBI; LF Conner Westenburg 2-for-5, 2 RBI; 2B Jose Verdugo 1-for-3, 2B, 2 BB; RHP Bryan Balzer 4 IP, 2 H, ER, 7 K, 2 BB; RHP Ethan Long (S, 1) IP, 2 H, ER, BB, K
Brian Balzer is a popular pick for a breakout in 2026. (Photo: Jerry Espinoza)
Prospect Watch: The Storm ruined the franchise debut of the Dodgers’ new low-A affiliate 10 miles down the road from Rancho Cucamonga as they rode a five-run third inning to victory. The top four batters in Lake Elsinore’s lineup each reached base 14 times total, drawing nine walks between them. Leadoff man Ryan Wideman had a pair of hits, drew a walk and was hit by a pitch, and reached on an error forced by his speed, but scored just one run as he was caught on two of four stolen base attempts on the night. The athletic center fielder converted 11 of 12 tries when he joined the Storm last year, but the third-rounder showed a tendency to get too aggressive on the basepaths this spring. After showing troubling whiff tendencies in his professional debut, Wideman didn’t swing-and-miss Thursday night. … Backstop Ty Harvey had the big hit of the night, a bases-clearing double off the the wall in left-center to put Lake Elsinore ahead. The Florida native, who signed for the equivalent of second-round money last year, had two walks and two strikeouts in his other trips to the plate. Fellow high-profile catcher Truitt Madonna, an overslot 11th-round signee last year, drew three walks and struck out twice out of the cleanup spot, while playing first base. The two 19-year-olds will largely alternate behind the plate this year. … Bryan Balzer had a solid season debut, working four one-run innings while striking out a career-high seven batters. The 21-year-old, who couldn’t turn his intriguing stuff into results in his first full season last year, struggled a bit early in the game, but punched out five of the the last six batters he saw after his offense gave him the lead. Balzer recorded 42 strikes on 68 pitches and allowed only one hard-hit ball on the night. The Padres are hoping the talented righty, who can run his fastball up to the high-90s and shows off the makings of a four-pitch mix, will pitch his way to Fort Wayne sooner than later this spring.
