Bryce Johnson had another good day at the plate. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Chihuahuas 6, Sacramento River Cats 3
Key Stats: RHP Matt Waldron 4 IP, 8 H, ER, K; RHP Alek Jacob (S, 5) 1.1 IP, H, K; CF Bryce Johnson 2-for-2, 2 RS, 2 BB; 3B Luis Rengifo 2-for-3, HR (1), 2 RBI, BB; C Blake Hunt 1-for-4, HR (3), 2 RBI
Prospect Watch: After walking four batters in 2.2 innings in his previous start, Matt Waldron didn’t issue a single walk over four innings this time. Of his 60 pitches, just 18 were balls. Despite the improved efficiency, Waldron allowed eight hits, but helped himself by inducing two double plays. He threw his knuckleball almost exclusively to left-handed hitters, and it averaged 83 mph—2.5 mph faster than his season average. Waldron still has nearly two weeks before the Padres need to make a decision on his future. … Welcome to the Padres organization, Luis Rengifo. The eight-year MLB veteran was released by the Brewers last week before signing with San Diego. In his first game in the organization, Rengifo homered, drove in two runs, and reached base three times. In 2024, he hit .300 with the Angels and posted a .764 OPS, but he has struggled since then, batting .205 with a .534 OPS before being released. The Padres will hope that change of scenery is what the 29-year-old needs. … While the big league club is enduring a rough week, Bryce Johnson is putting together one of his best stretches of the season. After collecting three hits Tuesday, Johnson reached base in all four of his plate appearances Wednesday, recording two singles and two walks. After opening his El Paso season 3-for-24, the switch-hitter has rebounded to raise his batting average to .244 while posting a .380 on-base percentage.
Amarillo Sod Poodles 2, Missions 1
Key Stats: RHP Ian Koenig 5 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 5 K, HBP; RHP Garrett Hawkins IP, K; RHP Clay Edmondson IP, 2 K, BB; RHP Tucker Musgrove 0.1 IP, H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 WP; RF Braedon Karpathios 1-for-4, 3B, R; DH Tirso Ornelas 1-for-4, 2B
Ian Koenig threw five shutout innings. (Photo: San Antonio Missions)
Prospect Watch: Coming off his worst start of the season, Ian Koenig bounced back to toss his third scoreless outing of the year. Koenig hasn’t allowed a run at home in two straight games, spanning 10 innings. The former undrafted free agent owns a 4.03 ERA through 15 starts for the Missions. … Righty reliever Garrett Hawkins, who had remained on the active roster in El Paso but not thrown a competitive pitch since June 5, was reassigned to the Missions prior to the game. Over his final three appearances with the Chihuahuas, Hawkins walked seven batters in just three innings. In his first outing back with the Missions, he still struggled with his command, throwing 50% of his pitches for balls, but recovered to complete a perfect inning. Hawkins posted a 1.69 ERA in 13 appearances with the Missions last season. … The Missions appeared on their way to a 1-0 victory before turning to Tucker Musgrove in the ninth. The hard-throwing right-hander struggled to command any of his pitches, facing four batters while throwing just five strikes. He walked two, uncorked two wild pitches, and was unable to protect the lead. Musgrove continues to flash electric movement, but his ability to consistently throw strikes will remain the key factor in his development as a prospect.
Earlier in the day, Ethan Salas and Kash Mayfield were announced as the Padres’ participants in this year’s All-Star Futures Games contest, which will be played in Philadelphia on July 12.
Great Lakes Loons 8, TinCaps 7
Key Stats: RHP Winyer Chourio 2.2 IP, H, 4 ER, 5 BB, 4 K; RHP Ryan Och 2 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 5 K; RHP Daison Acosta 2.1 IP, 2 K; RF Kavares Tears 2-for-5, 2 HR (11), 4 RBI; LF Kasen Wells 2-for-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI; CF Ryan Wideman 1-for-4, R, BB
Prospect Watch: Despite a multi-home run game from Kavares Tears the Loons took advantage of a dropped popup to win the game. Our own John Conniff has all the details from the game.
Stockton Ports 11, Storm 6
Key Stats: CF Conner Westenburg 1-for-4, R, RBI, SB (31), BB; 1B Dawson Willis 1-for-3, HR (3), 2 R, RBI, BB; SS Jorge Quintana 1-for-3, 2B, RBI, 2 SB (14), BB
Jorge Quintana gives the Padres plenty to hope on in Lake Elsinore. (Photo: Robert Escalante)
Prospect Watch: The Storm scored four runs in the first inning without recording a hit, opening the game with five consecutive walks. In the fourth, their pitching staff returned the favor by walking four straight to begin the inning before capitalizing on the free passes with a home run. Storm pitchers finished the night having allowed 12 walks. Their offense drew eight walks of its own but went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position, leading to the loss. … Dawson Willis hit his third home run in just over two weeks with the Storm after hitting four in 16 games for the Peoria Padres. The undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma is batting .298 with a .911 OPS for Lake Elsinore, though he has struck out in 38.4% of his at-bats this season. He is also carrying an unsustainably high .519 BABIP, but he is making hard contact. … The Storm’s top position prospect, Jorge Quintana, continues to search for consistency at the plate, though there have been encouraging signs recently. The teenager recorded his first triple of the season and stole two bases. It also marked just the second time since June 18 that he has gone a game without striking out. Quintana is hitting .225 with a .614 OPS for the Storm this season, an improvement over the .582 OPS he posted after joining the club in the Brandon Lockridge trade last year.
ACL Padres 12, ACL Rangers 4 (7 innings)
Key Stats: LHP Ryan Reed IP, K; RHP Erick Batista 4 IP, 3 H, ER, BB, 7 K; DH Eddson Martinez 2-for-3, 2B, 3 R, RBI, BB, SB (4); CF Moises Valdez 3-for-4, 2 3B, 3 R, 3 RBI; RF Jesmaylin Arias 3-for-3, HR (6), 4 RBI; C Jack Mathey 2-for-4, R, RBI, 2B, SB (4)
Prospect Watch: Ryan Reed threw a perfect inning in his season-debut as he began a rehab assignment. A 15th-round pick last season, Reed threw 2.2 innings with the Storm last season, but has been on the IL since spring training. Like many of A.J. Preller’s drafted pitchers, Reed is a towering 6-foot-5. … Jesmaylin Arias had a perfect day at the plate, including his team-leading sixth home run of the season. Arias drove in a career high four runs. After putting up a .609 OPS in his first 15 games, the 19-year-old has a 1.035 OPS since. … Eddson Martinez had a single and double and drew a walk, reaching base multiple time for the fifth time in his last six games. After hitting .442 with a 1.281 OPS in the DSL, Martinez was promoted and played his first stateside game two weeks ago. Since then, he has continued to hit, posting a .381 average with an 1.087 OPS. In seven games since arriving in Peoria, Martinez has eight hits, eight walks, and scored eight runs. … Center fielder Moises Valdez had a pair of triples as part of his three-hit game. The 20-year-old, who spent three full seasons in the DSL before getting his first opportunity to come stateside, has hit in five straight games, collecting four extra-base hits in the process. He has his line for the season up to .308/.373./.452 with an 18.6% strikeout rate.
