For the first time this season, all four full-season clubs were in action on Good Friday. The vibes were great in Texas, as the Chihuahuas rode a cycle to a win and the Missions cruised to a victory. The TinCaps lost a close, cold-weather tilt in Michigan, and the Storm were obliterated on a historic night in the 909.
Chihuahuas 10, Tacoma Rainiers 5
Key Statistics: RF Samad Taylor, 1-for-3, 2 R, 2 BB, SB (1); CF Jase Bowen, 4-for-5, 2B, 3B, HR (2), 4 RBI; SS Sung-Mun Song, 3-for-5, 2 RBI; 1B Jose Miranda, 1-for-5, R, HR (1), 4 RBI; LHP Marco Gonzales (W, 1-0) 5 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 4 K; RHP Triston McKenzie, 2 IP, 3 BB, 2 K; RHP Garrett Hawkins, IP, K
Jase Bowen impressed with his athleticism this spring. (Photo: Jerry Espinoza)
Prospect Watch: Both teams scored four runs in the first inning, but the El Paso pitching staff avoided further damage until the ninth inning. El Paso used a three-run eighth to pull away from Tacoma. … It was a banner night for center fielder Jase Bowen, who hit for the cycle in the victory. Bowen got things started with a single in the first inning and doubled in the second. After striking out in the fourth inning, the toolsy outfielder went with a 96 mph fastball to homer to right in the seventh. He tripled in the eighth inning to complete the seventh cycle in Chihuahuas history. The former Pirates prospect has been red-hot in his first season in the Padres’ system. He has a 1.347 OPS, which ranks sixth in the PCL. It’s far too early to draw any conclusions, but Bowen is still 25 and can play all three outfield positions. He is an obvious candidate to earn a big league promotion if the Padres need an outfielder at any point this season. … Sung-Mun Song had the best night of his rehab assignment, tallying three hits and driving in a pair of runs. In his final at-bat of the evening, Song smoked a single that left his bat at 105 mph. In six games with El Paso, Song is hitting .292/.370/.292. He has yet to connect on an extra-base hit and his 29% K-rate is a bit of a warning as he continues to take a huge number of strikes. While his his .438 BABIP is concerning, he’s also averaging just over a 90 mph exit velocity. The Padres can leave him on his rehab assignment until April 16 and have the ability to option to the minors if they choose not to activate him when it ends. … Marco Gonzalez allowed four runs in the first, capped by a three-run shot from former Cub Patrick Wisdom. However, he looked much better as the game progressed. He didn’t allow a run over his final four innings and earned the win for his effort. The former Mariner is the textbook version of a crafty lefty – his four-seamer sat at 90 mph. However, he’s pitched parts of 10 seasons in the big leagues and has a respectable 4.16 ERA over nearly 1,000 innings. The 34-year-old gives the organization an experienced depth option. … Triston McKenzie took over for Gonzales and kept Tacoma off the scoreboard, despite continuing struggles with command. The former Guardian walked three in his two innings of work, striking out a pair. He sat in the mid-90s with his four-seam fastball, topping out at 96.2 mph. In four innings over a pair of outings, McKenzie has walked seven batters. His upside remains intriguing, but his command will need to improve drastically if he wants to get another chance in the big leagues. … Reliever Jason Adam was reportedly scheduled to make a rehab appearance, but did not.
Miguel Mendez has the highest upside of anyone in the top two levels of th the Padres’ system. (Photo: Sara Crosley)
Missions 11, Tulsa Drillers 9
Key Statistics: 3B Carson Tucker, 2-for-5, 2 2B, 2 R, RBI; LF Albert Fabian, 2-for-4, R, HR (1), 3 RBI, BB; RF Kai Murphy, 1-for-3, 2 R, 3 BB, RBI, SB (1); RHP Miguel Mendez, 3.2 IP, 3 H, ER, 2 BB, 2 K; LHP Fernando Sanchez (W, 1-0) 0.1 IP, K; RHP Eric Yost, 1.2 IP, 3 H, ER, 2 BB, 2 K; RHP Michael Flynn (S, 1) 0.2 IP
Prospect Watch: The Missions drew 15 walks and held off a late rally in the rain from Tulsa to win their first game of 2026. Four different Missions hitters drew three walks Friday night. … Organizational newcomer Carson Tucker had a nice night at the plate with two doubles and an RBI. The 24-year-old was the 23rd overall pick by Cleveland in the abbreviated 2020 draft. He earned a $2,000,000 bonus but struggled with injuries and production before he was released in 2024 after playing in just 73 games over parts of three seasons. Last year, he played 18 games for the independent Ogden Raptors, posting a .921 OPS. Still just 24, Tucker has a first-round pedigree and big league bloodlines (his brother is former big league journeyman Cole Tucker). … Albert Fabian singled and connected on his first homer of the season in the win. The 24-year-old reached free agency this offseason, but the Padres thought enough of him to bring him back in the fold. In 48 games for the Missions last season, Fabian put up a solid wRC+ of 110. He has shown some pop, hitting 16 homers in 2023, his last fully healthy season. … Kai Murphy singled, drew three walks, and stole a base Friday. The 25-year-old had a solid 11% walk-rate in 2025 for San Antonio, but his inability to make loud contact limits his upside. He slugged just .282 for the Missions last season in nearly 400 plate appearances. The son of Brewers manager Pat Murphy will need to show more pop to hang in the organization all season. … Miguel Mendez had an uneven start and left before finishing the fourth inning. He worked 3.2 innings and allowed a run on three hits, walking two and striking out two. He generated a game-high 11 whiffs, but his command was inconsistent. Mendez possesses the highest upside of any pitcher in the top two levels of the minors. After throwing 63 pitches Friday, he should be able to get to 75 or so in his next outing. … With Easter Sunday scheduled as an off day, starter Eric Yost worked 1.2 innings of relief, giving up a run on three hits and a pair of walks over 1.2 innings. He gave way with the bases loaded after 34 pitches, but Sadrac Franco kept any more runs from crossing the plate.
Kash Mayfield threw three scoreless innings on Friday. (Photo: Ty Klopf)
Great Lakes Loons 2, TinCaps 1
Key Statistics: DH Carlos Rodriguez, 2-for-3, BB; CF Kasen Wells, 1-for-4, R; LF Alex McCoy, 1-for-3, 2B; LHP Kash Mayfield, 3 IP, 2 BB, 4 K; RHP Isaiah Lowe, 3 IP, 2 H, ER, 4 K; LHP Braian Salazar (L, 0-1) IP, 2 H, ER, BB
Prospect Watch: It was a miserable evening in Midland, Michigan, with a first-pitch temperature of 49 degrees that plummeted as the evening went on. The bats matched the weather, as the two teams combined to score three runs. Great Lakes scored the winning run in the seventh to best the TinCaps on Opening Night. … Lefty Kash Mayfield pitched well overall in his High-A debut. Mayfield tossed three hitless innings, walking two and striking out four. The Oklahoma native threw just 26 of his 51 pitches for strikes, but his fastball and changeup kept Loons hitters off-balance. Mayfield pitched to a 2.97 ERA last year with the Storm in 60.2 innings. … While Mayfield will get the headlines, Fort Wayne also got encouraging news in the form of Isaiah Lowe’s strong relief of Mayfield. The North Carolina native also tossed three innings, routinely peppering the zone with strikes. He needed just 39 pitches to get through three innings, throwing 27 strikes. He allowed a game-tying homer but showed poise to bounce back and keep the Loons from doing further damage. In 22 outings last season, Lowe walked 51 batters in 91.2 innings. The 22-year-old will hope that Friday’s outing is a sign of what’s to come. … Carlos Rodriguez started at designated hitter and had two of the TinCaps’ four hits. The 22-year-old broke out a bit with the Storm, hitting .276/.404/.454 in 46 games. He will be part of a talented platoon behind the dish with Lamar King Jr. in the Summit City this season. King went 0-for-2 with a pair of walks in his season debut. One of the free passes came with the bases loaded to plate the ‘Caps only run of the night.
Ontario Tower Buzzers 16, Storm 0
Key Statistics: 1B Kerrington Cross, 1-for-3; 2B Jose Verdugo, 2-for-3; LHP Kruz Schoolcraft (L, 0-1) IP, 4 H, 6 ER, 4 BB, K; RHP Daichi Moriki, 0.2 IP, H, R, 3 BB; RHP Sean Barnett, IP, H, 2 R, ER; RHP Nick Falter, 2 IP, H, BB, 3 K
Prospect Watch: A night after spoiling the franchise debut of yet another professional baseball team in San Bernardino County, the Storm were bludgeoned Friday night as the Tower Buzzers earned their first-ever victory. Lake Elsinore had just three hits, walked 12 batters, made six errors, hit three batters, uncorked four wild pitches, had three passed balls, and added a pair of pitch-clock violations for good measure. Despite the dismal showing, the Storm can win the brief series with a victory Saturday. … It was one to flush for Kruz Schoolcraft Friday night. The prized lefty never got in rhythm and was hit hard. He allowed eight baserunners without recording an out in the second inning and six came around to score. He walked four and struck out one, tossing 51 pitches before departing. While it’s only one start for the 18-year-old, he certainly was hoping to get off to a better start. It will be interesting to see how he bounces back during his next outing. … Righty Daichi Moriki took over for Schoolcraft and couldn’t bail him out. The former NPB first-round pick retired two batters but walked three and allowed a hit before needing a second pitching change to get his club through the second inning. He threw 26 pitches, just nine for strikes. … Nick Falter made his professional debut late and tossed a pair of scoreless innings, striking out three and walking just one batter. The undrafted free agent pitched at Division III Denison, where he holds the school record with a 3.02 ERA. … Jose Verdugo had two of Lake Elsinore’s three hits in the loss. The 5-foot-7 infielder doesn’t offer much physical projection, but he’s 3-for-6 in two games and has showed a feel for the barrel since signing a $10,000 international free agent deal last January. At just 18, the youngest player on the Storm roster is one of the key names we called out in our Storm season preview.
Off the field, it was a rough news day for the system, as we reported that Enmanuel Pinales and top pitching prospect Humberto Cruz are both facing legal issues that have led to their removal from the Padres’ active Domestic Reserve List. We’ll continue to report on the developing story.
