Summary: The San Antonio Missions finished last in both the first half (31-38) and second half (28-41) of the season. They did it honestly, posting a league-worst -166 run differential. The Missions’ offense did improve after an influx of prospect promotions from Fort Wayne, but the pitching continued to lag behind, ultimately prompting the last-place finish. The Missions’ Nelson Wolff Stadium is notoriously pitcher-friendly, and the club scored nearly a run per game more on the road than they did at home. But their road total was still the worst on the circuit.
Overview: Players are considered at whichever affiliate they played the most games. So, while both Jake Cunningham and Alex McCoy hit over .300 for the Missions, they both logged more time in Fort Wayne and featured prominently in our wrap-up of that level. We recognize the top contributor to this year’s team as the top player. In contrast, the top prospect is based on our expectations based on his production, age, projectability, and potential impact in the major leagues.
Level: Double-A was long seen as the biggest step up in the minors, though that has changed some this decade. For the first time, prospects face opponents with major league experience. Pitchers who have excelled at the lower levels by locating one or two pitches often struggle at Double-A. Hitters who have questionable plate discipline can see their strikeout rates soar. The differences in age, ability, and background make Double-A one of the best training grounds in the minors. If you can thrive here, there is a great chance you can hold your own in the Majors.
Braedon Karpathios. (Photo: Vashaun Newman)
2026 San Antonio Missions Player of the Year: Braedon Karpathios (Ben and Kevin), Romeo Sanabria (David and John)
Others Receiving Votes: Ethan Salas (Clark)
In what seems to be a yearly recurrence, the Missions’ offense struggled to score runs. As such, the overall OPS and wRC+ numbers are a lot more tamped down than they are in other leagues. Braedon Karpathios not only produced, but he also led the team by appearing in 120 games. Karpathios hit .268/.353/.444 with 22 doubles, 17 home runs, 73 RBI, and 62 runs scored. He tied for the team lead in home runs, led the team in runs and RBI, led the team in walks, and finished second on the team in doubles. His 115 wRC+ and .176 ISO put him in line with his previous performances and established him as the top Mission throughout the year. After a miserably slow start in April (.513 OPS), Karpathios was arguably San Antonio’s most consistent hitter in 2026. Pair it with solid to above-average defense at all three outfield spots, and the 23-year-old – whose production at home actually matched what he did on the road – gave the former undrafted free agent a clear path to the big leaues.
While Karpathios didn’t get the call-up to Triple-A until the last week of the season, Romeo Sanabria was pushed ahead to El Paso in June after hitting .247/.345/.394 for the Missions as the organization tried to get the 24-year-old out of The Wolff. Instead, Sanabria returned six weeks later after a miserable spell in El Paso. When he returned, he had some of the best production in the league, hitting .421/.509/.568. Overall, the 24-year-old hit .295/.389/.442 for San Antonio, with 10 home runs, a 126 wRC+, and a .147 ISO over 93 games. Despite playing in 27 fewer games, Sanabria finished the season just one double behind Karpathios. The organization will hope the left-handed first baseman can build on that success going into the offseason.
Ethan Salas was the top prospect in San Antonio. (Photo: Vashaun Newman)
Top Hitting Prospect: Ethan Salas (unanimous)
Despite coming into the year as the top-ranked prospect in the system, it wasn’t clear exactly what to expect from the Ethan Salas in spring. Salas was originally called up to San Antonio briefly in 2023 and then he spent his short time on the field in 2025 in the Alamo City as well. Both times, he struggled offensively, and both stints led some scouts to doubt his viability as a top prospect. This year was a different story. Despite starting the season at 19 years old, Salas thrived in the Alamo, hitting .286/.361/.417 over 72 games. Salas carried an .849 OPS into the end of May before he struggled and then missed two weeks in June. He rebounded nicely when he returned to action, hitting .321 in July to get promoted to Triple-A. The rest is history.
Ever since 2023, when he was just 16 years old, Salas has shown the tools and approach to catch big-league pitching. The question was always whether his bat would ever catch up to his defense. This season, he proved that it had. Salas shot back up top prospect rankings and will go into next season as a favorite for the 2027 Rookie of the Year.
Others of Note:
Tirso Ornelas yielded strong results in a surprise return to San Antonio. (Photo: Vashaun Newman)
Speaking of players with big-league playing time, Tirso Ornelas tied Karpathios for the team lead in home runs and led the team with 33 doubles. The 26-year-old did not hit more than 10 home runs in any of his first five seasons with the Padres, but has now eclipsed that mark in four straight seasons. The left-handed hitter from Tijuana will become a minor league free agent for the second time in his career this winter. … Kai Roberts hit just .200 with a .578 OPS, but finished third in the league with 43 stolen bases on a 93.5% success rate. The speedy outfielder, a senior sign in 2024, will be 26 years old when minor league camp opens next year. … Albert Fabian was the only Mission with double digits in both home runs (12) and stolen bases (12). The 24-year-old is finally healthy after a nasty leg injury in 2024 and had his best season since 2023. He is another player from this roster who will hit the open market after the season. … After spending two years away from affiliated baseball, former first-round pick Carson Tucker hit over .300 with 13 stolen bases through the first three months of the season while playing an above-average shortstop. However, injuries derailed his second half, as he hit .234 during the final two months. … Leandro Cedeno was easily the best performer on the Missions for the first two months. He hit .315/.421/.528 in 26 games for the Missions before asking for and receiving his release so he could return to Japan, where he finished the season with a .798 OPS for the Yakult Swallows.
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