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#3561 · April 16, 2026, 6:03 am
Musgrove's debut was rained out. Castro pitched well despite giving up one run in the first 4 innings before he ran out of gas in the 5th, not registering an out before he was pulled. Got to build him up before he can compete longer but likely stay in the rotation for a team struggling with pitching thus far.
On the negative side, Lizarraga looks done. A 3.30 WHIP and 20.25 ERA don't even tell you how bad he's looked. Was supposed to benefit from pitching down in the Texas League before being brought up to the PCL, but at this rate more likely to be released than promoted. Not sure if there is something physically wrong with him but 11 walks and 11 hits given up in 6 and 2/3 innings plus 2 HB and 2 WP are surely warning signs of severe mechanical if not physical issues.
#3562 · April 16, 2026, 7:00 am
It is going to be interesting to hear what is going on with Lizarraga.
His first start was not good but passable (5 innings / 2 runs / 2 hits / 6 BB) ... it then moved to his 2nd and 3rd starts where he only went 1.2 innings combined yielding 9 hits / 5 BB and a whopping 15 runs. That is well beyond bad.
If injury ... no idea why he was sent out for this 3rd start or even kept in the game so long. If no injury, what would cause such a regression in performance. I guess in his first start his control was bad ... then in his second and third starts he appears to be still yielding walks but is getting hammered if he gets it over the plate.
Looking like an extended ST candidate.
#3563 · April 16, 2026, 4:34 pm
This has the makings of a feel good story but maybe it is just giving the guy one last look at the highest level he has ever pitched at before releasing him. Anyway, Andrew Thurman was just promoted to El Paso after being out of organized baseball since 2017 and is now 34 years old. Had done okay at San Antonio so don't know if this is in recognition of his perseverance or he really has stuff to pitch effectively at least the AAA level. I'll watch him the next time he hits the mound. He was, way back in 2013, a #2 draft choice of the Houston Astros. Rooting for him to fulfill his dream!
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LynchMob
#3564 · April 16, 2026, 5:06 pm
Quote from Randy Manese on April 16, 2026, 4:34 pmThis has the makings of a feel good story but maybe it is just giving the guy one last look at the highest level he has ever pitched at before releasing him. Anyway, Andrew Thurman was just promoted to El Paso after being out of organized baseball since 2017 and is now 34 years old. Had done okay at San Antonio so don't know if this is in recognition of his perseverance or he really has stuff to pitch effectively at least the AAA level. I'll watch him the next time he hits the mound. He was, way back in 2013, a #2 draft choice of the Houston Astros. Rooting for him to fulfill his dream!
Marco Gonzalez was put in the IL to make room.
#3565 · April 16, 2026, 5:15 pm
#3566 · April 16, 2026, 9:43 pm
Mendez continues to do well. Balzer took a step back but not awful. Similarly, Montgomery had a good second game for someone who hasn't pitched a lot in 2 years. By the way, Yost doing a great job piggy-backing on Mendez to close out his games - looking very solid in relief.
#3567 · April 17, 2026, 9:26 am
Today's MadFriars minor league report said that Tucker Musgrove was being groomed as a RP, not a SP. That's too bad, but makes sense as the quickest way for him to move up the system. He has elite stuff, when healthy, and I see him potentially as the equal to Morgan and Rodriguez. Wouldn't be surprised if he finishes this year at the AAA level.
By the way, Padres have a number of very good RPs currently on the IL and once those guys come off should improve the current track record of our minor league teams losing many close games in the final innings.
#3568 · April 17, 2026, 9:34 am
Schoolcraft will try again today to show he's got his mechanics right. The Lake Elsinore position player squad is a mix of players slightly old for the league and inexperienced phenoms that can explode on any given day but also look overmatched at times. These young players - Wideman, Fountain, Madonna, Harvey, Verdugo and Quintana - are showing a lot of upside and I'll make it a point to drive up the 15 to see them this year.
If the pitching comes around and they hang onto their core position players, this could be a playoff team despite the inexperience.
#3569 · April 17, 2026, 3:48 pm
Mayfield pitched a masterful game today, giving up 1 hit, 0 walks and 8 Ks while throwing 41 of 56 pitches for strikes. Walks had been his problem in his earlier starts but location was very good on his 90-93 mph FB and great arm motion on his change-up. Threw an occasional slider but it was the change that he got a lot of swing and miss. Would like to see him add a few ticks to his velocity but he maintains superior command, still could be effective as he moves up to AA and beyond.
#3570 · April 20, 2026, 9:03 am
YOEL KING ... a name to remember or not.
King is a 16 year old ... big body 16 year old pitcher out of the DR who reportedly hits 100MPH.
In February it was reported that the Padres had a "pre-signing" agreement with King and would sign him in January 2027 to one of the highest bonuses for that signing period. Such agreements are non-binding.
This month a report came out that King backed out, another report said the Padres backed out. Now a new report that the pre-agreement is still in place.
I guess it is wait and see but big upside if Padres sign him.