San Diego Padres Daily Farm Report: April 28

Chihuahuas 16, Albuquerque Isotopes 2

Key Statistics: LF Samad Taylor 1-for-4, 2 R, 2 BB, 3B, 3 RBI; DH Nick Solak 3-for-5, 4 R, 2 RBI, SB (1); SS Mason McCoy 4-for-4, HR (5), 3 R, 4 RBI; 1B Marcos Castañon 2-for-4, 2B; RHP Griffin Canning (W, 1-1) 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R (0 ER), BB, 4 K; RHP Jeremiah Estrada, IP, BB, K; RHP Ethan Routzahn, IP, 2 BB, K

Prospect Watch: El Paso scored six runs in the fourth inning to build a lead that only grew as the evening progressed. They scored five more in the ninth to blow out the ‘Topes in their series opener. … Veteran utilityman Nick Solak had one of his best games of the season, notching three hits, scoring four runs, and stealing his first base of the season. The 31-year-old has seen action in parts of six big league seasons, including four games with Pittsburgh last season. Coming into Tuesday’s action, Solak’s overall production was 11 percent below the league average. … Mason McCoy also had a fantastic night at the plate, tallying four hits, including his fifth homer of the season. The 31-year-old has hit in seven straight games, and has homered four times in his last 11 contests. The veteran doesn’t occupy a coveted 40-man roster spot for his bat; his value lies in his ability to play an excellent shortstop. However, his overall slash line of .280/.366/.500 keeps him in the discussion should the Padres need to add another infielder. … Right-handed starter Griffin Canning worked five innings, earning the win for his effort. The rehabbing big leaguer allowed an unearned run on three hits, walking one and striking out four. His fastball sat at 94 mph and he used a six-pitch mix to rack up an impressive 33% whiff rate. He tossed a season-high 68 pitches on the night as he gets closer to making his way to the big leagues. Canning’s rehab assignment is set to expire Monday. It’s notable that he has been working on five days’ rest rather than a typical four. … Jeremiah Estrada had a rehab outing of his own Tuesday, jumping from Lake Elsinore after his first game action since hitting the IL. He tossed a scoreless frame with one walk and one strikeout as well. Perhaps more importantly, Estrada’s fastball sat 96-97 mph – much closer to the velocity he showed last year as a key member of the Padres’ bullpen. In the early going this season, his fastball velocity had dropped more than two mph, so Tuesday’s outing is very encouraging. The organization will likely want to see Estrada work consecutive games to make sure he’s ready, but his outing Tuesday was a step in the right direction. 

Tulsa Drillers 17, Missions 7

Key Statistics: C Ethan Salas 2-for-5, HR (3), 3 RBI; DH Leandro Cedeno 2-for-5; 2B Ryan Jackson 2-for-4, R; RF Braedon Karpathios 2-for-5, R; RHP Eric Yost 4.1 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, 4 BB, 4 K; RHP Andrew Dalquist (L, 0-1) 1.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, K

Prospect Watch: The Missions faced Tulsa in an 11 am game to start their series. San Antonio led 6-4 after four innings, but Tulsa chipped away and put the game out of reach with a seven-run seventh inning. The Missions have lost 17 of their first 22 games this season. … Despite the losses piling up in the Lone Star State, Ethan Salas’ development has been a major source of optimism thus far. The young catcher has four straight multi-hit games, and he’s homered in three straight. His 8-for-17 stretch has raised his batting average from .238 to .305. The 19-year-old is hitting the ball hard consistently, and he’s struck out just three times in his last 23 at-bats. Despite struggles with consistency and missing virtually all of last year with an injury, Salas is still the top prospect in the Padres system. … Outfielder Braedon Karpathios had his second multi-hit game of the season in the loss. Karpathios will be glad to see the calendar flip to May, as April has been a miserable month for the 22-year-old. Even with his multi-hit outing, Karpathios sports a poor .537 OPS so far this season. His 35.9% K-rate is the seventh-highest in the Texas League, and his wRC+ of 45 is the fifth-lowest in the league. Despite the early-season struggles, the young outfielder has shown a good eye at the plate, and he’s been an above-average hitter after slow starts in each of the last two seasons. … Righty Eric Yost made his second start of the season, working into the fifth inning before departing. The New York native tossed 4.1 innings, allowing five runs on four hits, walking four, and striking out four. After opening the season building up in the bullpen, Yost has slowly stretched out to take his spot in the rotation. Walks have been a concerning issue so far this year. In his last three outings, spanning 12.1 innings, the 23-year-old has walked 10 batters. Despite the free passes, Yost has pitched to a 3.50 ERA on the season. 

South Bend Cubs 6, TinCaps 4

Key Statistics: LF Alex McCoy 2-for-4, HR (5), 2 RBI; 1B Jack Costello 1-for-2, 2 BB; RF Jake Cunningham 1-for-3, R, 2B; RHP Maikel Miralles (L, 0-3) 4 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, K; RHP Matthew Watson 3 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, BB, 4 K

Prospect Watch: The TinCaps struggled to muster much offense and lost on the road against their cross-state rivals in South Bend. … Per usual, Alex McCoy provided the offensive thump, as the big outfielder singled and connected on his team-leading fifth homer of the season. McCoy has been highly productive this season, despite the TinCaps offensive mostly struggling around him. Tuesday’s effort nudged his OPS up to 1.003 even though he has a walk rate hovering around five percent, and he’s struck out in roughly a quarter of his plate appearances. While there is still opportunity for improvement, the young outfielder’s raw power is the best in the system. …  Righty Maikel Miralles struggled again Tuesday and took his third loss of the year. The 21-year-old walked five batters in his four innings of work, but despite allowing 10 baserunners, he only gave up two runs. After starting the year off in strong fashion with four shutout innings against Lansing, Miralles has endured a rough stretch. Over his last 11.2 innings, he’s allowed four home runs, 10 walks, and just five strikeouts. He will finish May with a 6.89 ERA. … Righty Matthew Watson tossed three innings in relief, allowing two runs on four hits. He walked one and struck out four. The 2024 13th-rounder has a 5.40 ERA in three outings since coming off the IL to finally make his professional debut following Tommy John surgery. 

Ontario Tower Buzzers 4, Storm 3 (10 innings)

Key Statistics: 3B Bradley Frye 1-for-4, BB, 2 RBI; LF Conner Westenburg 2-for-3, R, 2B, 2 SB (13); RF Justin DeCriscio 1-for-4, BB; RHP Winyer Chourio 5 IP, H, ER, 2 BB, 8 K; RHP Will Koger (L, 1-1) 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R (1 ER), 3 K

Prospect Watch: The Storm carried a lead into the ninth, but the Buzzers got a game-tying homer in the ninth and pushed across the free runner in the tenth on a balk call to end Lake Elsinore’s six-game winning streak. … Lake Elsinore had to face two-time Cy Young award winner and former Padre Blake Snell, who tossed three innings in a rehab start. He struck out six batters before departing. … Speedy outfielder Conner Westenburg had a couple of hits, including a bloop double down the line in right. He scored the Storm’s first run by stealing home with ease. An undrafted free agent last year, the 22-year-old has shown impressive bat-to-ball skills and elite speed this season for the Storm. He has a .371 average and a .935 OPS, fueled by a .500 average on balls in play. He trails only teammate Ryan Wideman in the Cal League with 13 stolen bases in 14 attempts. … Bradley Frye extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a run-scoring single in his fourth at-bat on the night. He also drew a walk in the Storm defeat. Frye has been the most productive hitter in the Cal League in April, as Tuesday’s performance actually dropped his batting average to .403. He finished the game with a wRC+ of 168 – the highest in the Padres system. … Righty Winyer Chourio turned in his best outing of the season, but he did not factor in the decision. The 22-year-old worked five innings for the first time in 2026, allowing just a run on one hit. He walked two and struck out a career-high eight. In five April outings, pitching to a 2.12 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 17 innings. 

Roster Moves: After Kale Fountain hit the IL last week Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported Monday that he had to undergo shoulder surgery for a subluxation and was moved to the 60-day injured list. The 20-year-old has now had three significant surgeries since the Padres drafted him in the fifth round in 2024.