Quote from Randy Manese on September 5, 2025, 12:17 pm

Despite th Padres Gold team winning the DSL Cup, noted that Baseball America did not name  any Padres DSL players in its top 35 prospects list.   I still think there were several that could have squeezed into that top 35, however, most of the players are very young and inexperienced and may show greater impact as they mature.

Curious to see how many, especially position players, make it to the ACL in 2026 - I predicting at least 3 with a chance for up to 5.  It's a big leap from the DSL to the ACL but there were a lot of solid hitters on the Gold Team albeit not what you would call sluggers.  While I can't find info on the wRC+ on all the top Gold players, de la Cruz was at 136 while Verdugo was 133.  My computed DSL OPS average was 747 - here are the numbers above that for the Gold position players who might make the ACL:  OF Fabian Alcantara (948 but small sample size due to injuries), INF Jose Verdugo (942, again smaller sample size because of injury), OF Santiago Contreras (866), INF Armando Bastidas (858), OF Eddson Martinez (844), INF Eduarlin Tejeda (838), INF Jhoan de la Cruz (837), OF Moises Valdez (832) and C Isaac Ponce (816).

Quote from LynchMob on September 5, 2025, 5:30 pm

From DFR ...

Bradgley Rodriguez came on with two on and two outs with a one-run lead in the fifth. He quickly got ahead 0-2, but then gave up a single that plated the tying run, then got a ground ball to end the frame. He came back for the seventh and worked around a leadoff walk. Rodriguez’s most effective offering of the night was his sinker, which averaged 96.6 mph, 10.1 inches of induced vertical break, and 12.4 inches of arm side run, helping him generate a key double play ball against Brandon Drury in the bottom of the sixth. Since returning from the IL, Rodriguez has worked 6.1 scoreless innings, though alarmingly he’s walked five and only struck out three. Thursday, he didn’t induce a single whiff on 18 pitches.

Quote from Randy Manese on September 6, 2025, 9:51 am

I watched this outing from Rodriguez and he really wasn't fooling anyone.  Pitches didn't seem to have the same zip or movement that was there earlier in the year before his injury.  I know 96.6 seems impressive but not when he was previously throwing 98-100 and getting those wiffs.  Missed high with many of his pitches and way inside to the LH batter to give up the walk; also bounced a couple in the dirt.  Mostly threw FB/sinkers and I couldn't identify a single change or slider by the way the pitches were coming out of his hand and reaching the plate.  I would be careful with him for the remainder of the year and let that injury (I think it was a biceps injury) heal completely over the winter.

Quote from Randy Manese on September 6, 2025, 10:01 am

Maikel Miralles looked very very good last night.  While his overall stats were so-so in Lake Elsinore, he had a tremendous July before crashing down in August.  The talent he flashed in July is there, he just can't consistently get to it, however, in the two games at Ft. Wayne you can see his potential.

Ft. Wayne looks to have a very good rotation next year with Mayfield, Miralles, hopefully a much better Lowe, Kemp and possibly Candiotti and Gutierrez returning if they aren't advanced to San Antonio.  Mayfield and Kemp will be on limited innings, so likely a 6 man rotation.  If healthy, Reyes could be in the mix to return to SP or we might see one of the college pitchers drafted this year be aggressively placed - Dalena the most likely.

Looking forward to the debut of Kruz Schoolcraft today, although I'll be surprised if he goes more than 1 inning.

Quote from Randy Manese on September 7, 2025, 7:39 am

The game stats won't do him justice, but Schoolcraft was impressive in his debut of more than 1 inning after not having thrown competitively in several months.  He didn't have the command he is noted for but you could see flashes of what he would be like after a full spring training.  He threw mostly fast balls and change-up and was an easy 97-98 with the FB.  His motion and delivery were very smooth and repeatable.  Didn't see as much movement or spin I expected but Padres were keeping it simple and seemingly just wanted him to get out there and get his first professional experience.  Schoolcraft should have been credited with a full two innings of work because Truitt Madonna's throw to third base sure looked like it arrived before the runner did but this is typical in minor league games with fewer umpires and no replay.  Let's see how MF evaluated his performance but under the circumstances, I was impressed.

Quote from Jeremy Hill on September 10, 2025, 12:57 pm

AFL rosters are out. The Padres are sending Ethan Salas, Isaiah Lowe, Maikel Miralles, Carson Montgomery, Johan Moreno, Tucker Musgrove, Ryan Jackson and Braedon Karpathios.

Quote from LynchMob on September 10, 2025, 2:55 pm

Quote from Jeremy Hill on September 10, 2025, 12:57 pm

AFL rosters are out. The Padres are sending Ethan Salas, Isaiah Lowe, Maikel Miralles, Carson Montgomery, Johan Moreno, Tucker Musgrove, Ryan Jackson and Braedon Karpathios.

https://www.mlb.com/news/2025-arizona-fall-league-rosters

Padres (Peoria): Ethan Salas, C (No. 1/MLB No. 82); Isaiah Lowe, RHP (No. 26); Braedon Karpathios, OF (No. 29); Ryan Jackson, INF; Maikel Miralles, RHP; Carson Montgomery, RHP; Johan Moreno, RHP; Tucker Musgrove, RHP

Salas went just 6-for-32 (.188) with a double in 10 games with Double-A San Antonio in April and didn’t play for the Missions again due to back problems. The 19-year-old’s second AFL stint will be closely followed by scouts and evaluators trying to figure out if he can reach cathedral-high ceiling or if a further slip down (or even out of) the Top 100 is justified. He’s still the second-youngest player on an initial AFL roster (only 24 days older than Brailer Guerrero). Musgrove, who missed 2024 due to Tommy John, will be an interesting arm with his upper-90s fastball and plus slider with good spin and horizontal break.

Quote from fenn68 on September 11, 2025, 9:17 am

Given the lack of position players on the roster (after the FA leave) and what appears to be not much to add out of the system to protect from Rule 5 over the winter ... plus a pretty good chance there will be a lot of empty 40 man roster slots to work with ... what are the chances Perlaza and Castanon get added? I know not "great" prospects ... but maybe the best internal options who could help in 2026.

Perlaza ... had a lot of hope for him when they signed him last winter ... 26 year old switch hitting OF who displays good 2B/HR power (I know in EP but) who delivered a 304/391/511 slash line with a relatively low K%. Padres must see a major flaw since never a sniff of him being added this season but considering the need / alternatives?

Castanon ... RHH INF with some power ... had a terrible Jun-Jul but overall in SA (tough hitter's park) did well 269/332/426 and has be on fire in his brief EP time.

Again, not thinking great prospect but maybe bench options greater than Ornelas, McCoy, Wagner? The only other one before the season I was considering was Sanabria (SA) but he just faded in the 2nd half and not ML ready and unlikely to be taken in Rule 5.

 

Quote from Randy Manese on September 19, 2025, 5:04 pm

Castanon may get a spring training invite but is limited to 2b or 3b defensively because of his limited range; good hands and strong arm.  Finishing strong after a slow June and July.  Thought he'd be up sooner but getting hit in the face with a pitch last year slowed his promotion.  Like his stroke - better on base against lefties but more power against RHP.  I like him better than Wagner to fill the role we thought Eguy would fill this year.  Because the play of Cronenworth at ss was decent, don't think they'll have another ss on the bench but look to keep Acuna in the system at EP next year.

For Perlaza, have to convince him to give up his free agency to have a chance as the 4th or 5th OF in 2026.  Bryce Johnson has done a wonderful job offensively  this year but likely will return to the norm next season so likely will not be tendered a contract.  Perlaza, a switch hitter, is a poor-man's Profar although he doesn't quite have the bat to ball skills of Pro.  Perlaza is equally good against LHP and RHP with more power shown against LHP.  Just adequate in the field but should be good enough offensively to give the starting OF of Laureano-Merrill-Tatis Jr. a day off without a massive drop-off - league average or slightly below would be fine.  He also could PH and in a pinch play 2b or 3b (although he hasn't done so since 2019).  Clutch hitter although hard hit and exit velocity rates don't scream power hitter.  Ornelas did come back well from injury is it might come down to one of these two getting a spot on the bench.

Clay Dungan and Tim Locastro are two others who will be FA's after the season and despite injuries to the latter still showed well this year.  Possible that they could be enticed to stay in the system and if the Padres do move Campusano, Rodolfo Duran had a very good offensive year for a back-up catcher even though his defense is just average; Padres, however, will likely go defense first if they don't keep Campusano.

I don't see McCoy getting tendered but will likely keep LH hitting Wagner as a low cost option in EP.  Sanabria is definitely not ready for AAA much less the majors.

A return of Wade?  A possibility because Padres need a little more speed on the bench, which is why Dungan and Locastro were mentioned.  We saw a lot of movement near the end of the season in the minors and most of the better prospects were exposed to where they will play in 2026.