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#3591 · May 8, 2026, 9:24 pm
Quote from MrPadre19 on May 8, 2026, 8:53 pmQuote from brent wolff on May 8, 2026, 8:25 pmWhat a bummer about Humberto Cruz! Ugh! What a stupid decision by Cruz.
From Dennis Lin
”Humberto Cruz, one of the Padres' top pitching prospects, pleaded guilty to a federal misdemeanor stemming from a human smuggling operation in Arizona, according to court documents, and as the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. Cruz self-deported to Mexico, sources said.”
No wonder it takes me 3 to 4 hours to cross the border to catch a Padres game, If people like him are doing that, imagine what other people "ordinary" I mean, are trying to pull while they cross the border. 🤦
#3592 · May 9, 2026, 2:31 am
Quote from Randy Manese on May 7, 2026, 7:39 pmJhony Brito made a decent rehab start in the ACL today, walking only 1 and striking out 7 while throwing 60 pitches. Can he successfully come back and contribute at the major league level? Need to see him at 75 pitches as well as how he bounces back from this outing. Behind Giolito but maybe late June/early July? Has one option left if need more time after his max rehab period is up.
Coming back from TJ I would expect a bit longer of work in the minors before being recalled. He was an outstanding control pitcher with a plus change but not a power arm ... control is often takes the longest to return after the surgery.
He came up as primarily a SP ... but some scouts see him best as a long man in the pen. Mid-90s FB, excellent change, excellent command inducing a high ground ball rate but low K rate might work nicely one time through the order but then? However, TJ surgery sometimes improves FB ... so never know.
I would guess the Padres ... baring a major need ... will just keep him building up in the minors for most (if not all) of 2026 and set him up for a ML roster run in 2027 (when he is out of options). He is still just 28. Potentially he will have a lot of open slots at the ML level given the FA to be / (Canning, Buehler, Marquez, Giolito, Adam, Morejon), the potential opt outs (King, Pivetta, Matsui, Peralta), and potentially injury plagued arms (Darvish, Musgrove).
#3593 · May 9, 2026, 10:23 am
Cruz wasn't going to pitch anyway in 2026 but does pleading guilty to the misdemeanor prevent him from getting a visa to pitch in the US? If so, then his possible major league dreams are over; if not, Padres will probably forgive him for the stupidity of youth and possible pressure put upon him to transport someone over the border. i guess we'll find out the consequences soon.
#3594 · May 9, 2026, 10:54 am
Quote from Randy Manese on May 9, 2026, 10:23 amCruz wasn't going to pitch anyway in 2026 but does pleading guilty to the misdemeanor prevent him from getting a visa to pitch in the US? If so, then his possible major league dreams are over; if not, Padres will probably forgive him for the stupidity of youth and possible pressure put upon him to transport someone over the border. i guess we'll find out the consequences soon.
From an article in the UT about the situation.
"It is the Padres’ understanding that Cruz has also lost his work visa for 10 years, although he can reapply after five years of demonstrating good behavior."
Padres prospect pleads guilty in case involving transport of undocumented immigrants
#3595 · May 9, 2026, 12:44 pm
Quote from Jeremy Hill on May 9, 2026, 10:54 amQuote from Randy Manese on May 9, 2026, 10:23 amCruz wasn't going to pitch anyway in 2026 but does pleading guilty to the misdemeanor prevent him from getting a visa to pitch in the US? If so, then his possible major league dreams are over; if not, Padres will probably forgive him for the stupidity of youth and possible pressure put upon him to transport someone over the border. i guess we'll find out the consequences soon.
From an article in the UT about the situation.
"It is the Padres’ understanding that Cruz has also lost his work visa for 10 years, although he can reapply after five years of demonstrating good behavior."
Ouch!
Well I guess in 5 years, he's still just 24.
I imagine the Padres will continue to work with him closely( if it's legally possible?) if he's a legitimate prospect( which by all accounts he is)
Just a dumb kid making a dumb decision. Hopefully that'll be the dumbest thing he does and he gives himself a chance to be a Major League baseball player someday 🤞🏽
#3596 · May 9, 2026, 12:49 pm
If Brito can become a viable pitcher, that just helps soften the blow of the Soto deal.
With King and Vasquez leading our rotation, the trade seems to be balancing out a bit but watching Wood, Abrams, and Gore play( and with Hassel and Susana on the come) still stings a bit.
If Johny can start, then 3 SP in your rotation for 1 dude looks alright.
#3597 · May 12, 2026, 11:01 am
Ethan Salas is playing very well in Double-A San Antonio. His offense stats looks great:
5 HR, 18 RBI, 13 BB , .320 AVG, .396 OBP, .546 SLG, .942 OPS
Anyone know how his defense?
He should be promote him to Triple-A El Paso.
#3598 · May 12, 2026, 11:03 am
Kash Mayfield, LHP (No. 4)
The 25th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft dealt with a spring illness and first-half shoulder trouble that limited his first full season to 60 2/3 innings at Single-A Lake Elsinore last year, though he did post a 2.97 ERA with 88 strikeouts in that time. He’s been just as stingy with High-A Fort Wayne to begin his age-21 season as he owns a 1.82 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 26 strikeouts in six starts (24 2/3 innings) entering this week. His .107 average-against is fourth-lowest among Minor Leaguers with at least 20 frames in 2026.
He should be promoted to Double-A San Antonio.
#3599 · May 12, 2026, 12:13 pm
Quote from ultratvfan on May 12, 2026, 11:01 amEthan Salas is playing very well in Double-A San Antonio. His offense stats looks great:
5 HR, 18 RBI, 13 BB , .320 AVG, .396 OBP, .546 SLG, .942 OPS
Anyone know how his defense?
He should be promote him to Triple-A El Paso.
Defense is a plus ... but still some work needed on throwing.
Too soon to move him up after only one month. Actually I would leave him in SA for the season ... a tougher hitting environment so he does not get into bad habits hitting in the PCL. If all goes well, maybe a late August promotion.
Let him experience AAA next season while the ML is in lockout.
#3600 · May 12, 2026, 12:16 pm
Quote from ultratvfan on May 12, 2026, 11:03 amKash Mayfield, LHP (No. 4)
The 25th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft dealt with a spring illness and first-half shoulder trouble that limited his first full season to 60 2/3 innings at Single-A Lake Elsinore last year, though he did post a 2.97 ERA with 88 strikeouts in that time. He’s been just as stingy with High-A Fort Wayne to begin his age-21 season as he owns a 1.82 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 26 strikeouts in six starts (24 2/3 innings) entering this week. His .107 average-against is fourth-lowest among Minor Leaguers with at least 20 frames in 2026.
He should be promoted to Double-A San Antonio.
Probably in June after 10 starts ... again needs to show vs different opponents with different skills. No hurry, still would get over 10 starts in AA.
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