San Diego Padres affiliates went 0-3 on Thursday. El Paso was rained out in Tacoma. 

Here is a recap of the day’s events.

Lake Elsinore Storm (Loss 12-10 to Rancho Cucamonga Quakes) (8-8, 2nd in Cal South)

*Leodalis De Vries: 2 for 5, w/ a triple & 4 RBIs

* Dillon Head: 1 for 4 w/ 2 BB’s

* Jay Beshears: 4 for 5, 2B & RBI

The young guns of the Lake Elsinore Storm fell to their rivals up north, the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, by the final of 12-10.

Still, in the loss,  the Storm’s youngest and brightest stars shined. 17-year-old Leodalis De Vries would go 2-for-5 with four RBIs.  His first hit would be a two-run triple in the top of the third that scored Jay Beshears and Dillon Head.

 For his second knock of the night, De Vries would just miss his first professional home run as he laced a long single off the middle of the wall in the top of the 8th, again scoring Beshears. It’s a ball that will undoubtedly be a home run in the next calendar year or so as the 17-year-old gets stronger and continues to add muscle.

Padres No.5 prospect Leodalis De Vries JUST misses his first professional HR.

He laces this RBI single off the wall in the 8th

Kid is insane. https://t.co/0iDFtBMDKL pic.twitter.com/Nh3AcGsDxb

— Clark Fahrenthold (@CFahrenthold11) April 26, 2024

In a very limited time with the Storm, De Vries has shown why he was the top international prospect of his signing class and why some think he has the best hit tool in the system. 

Dillon Head’s hot April would continue with a 1-4 night with two walks and two runs scored. Head’s lone hit would come via a quality two-strike single in the top of the 4th inning. Head would also smoke a liner in that top of the 7th that had an exit velocity over 96 mph, but would be caught. 

Jay Beshers would also clock a big night, going 4-for-5 with two singles, a ringing double, and a walk. All balls had exit velo’s over 90 mph. Now, through 76 ABs, Beshers owns a wRC+ >190, .499 wOBA, and a .477 Slug%

Fort Wayne TinCaps, (5-1 Great Lakes Loons) (8-9, MID EAST)

*Devin Ortiz : 2 for 4, 1 run scored 

*Ethan Salas: 0 for 3, 1 BB

* Homer Busch Jr. : 0-2, 2 BB’s 

The Fort Wayne’s bats fell flat this Thursday Night as they were taken down 5-1 by the Great Lakes Loons. Registering both hits for the TinCaps would be Devin Ortiz, as he went 2-for-4 and a run scored. Both hits were singles. 

At Age 25, Ortiz is on the older side, but he has strung together a good start to 2024 with a 164 wRC+, 14.8% BB%, and a .437 wOBA. 

Also of note, Padres No.11 prospect Homer Bush Jr.’s early season struggles would continue as he would go 0-for-2 with two strikeouts. However, he would still find some production as he would work two walks in Thursday night’s loss. 

On the bump, TinCaps Starter Miguel Cienfuegos would work 4 ⅔ innings, allowing four earned runs on five hits and three walks while punching out just one. 

The other notable name on the bump would be Ryan Och. Och would work ⅔ of an inning and strikeout two, but he would allow one run on two hits and a walk. Even in allowing the run, Och’s ERA sits at just 1.17 with a K% > 50% and a FIP of .057. 

If he continues to pitch like this, he could see a promotion in the next month or so.

San Antonio Missions (9-2 Loss to Wichita) (10-8, 3rd in TEX  South)

*Adam Mazur: 4 1/3 IP, 7 ER’s, 8 Ks & 12 Whiffs

*Michael De La Cruz and Ripken Reyes: 1 RBI each 

Coming into Thursday Night’s outing, Padres No.7 Prospect Adam Mazur had been fantastic in 2024 for San Antonio. Holding a 0.56 ERA, 2.78 FIP, 2.78 xFIP, and a K% of 29.6% coming into his start against Wichita. 

However, vs the Wind Storm,  the right hander would have his most difficult outing of the season going 4 ⅓ IP and allowing seven runs on eight hits. 

The normally razor sharp Mazur, left far too many balls in the middle of the zone and as a result faced more base traffic than he has seen this season. 

Even with the struggles, Mazur was still able to rack off the K’s and swings and misses as he punched out eight and generated 12 Whiffs on the night. As well, while his command in the zone was poor, he still filled up the strike zone with a 70% strike-percentage on the evening. 

Padres No.7 Prospect Adam Mazur had his toughest outing of the season today.

The right-hander went:

4 1/3 IP, gave up 7 runs on 8 hits; he left way too many pitches in the middle of the zone.

Mazur still recorded 8K’s, 12 Whiffs, and a 70% Strike% overall. pic.twitter.com/MVnP6uXSOJ

— Clark Fahrenthold (@CFahrenthold11) April 26, 2024

On the offensive side, RBIs would come from Michael De La Cruz and Ripken Reyes. In the loss, Padres big names Jakob Marsee & Nathan Martorella would continue to see some early season struggles, going a combined 0-for-7 with a walk courtesy of Marsee. 

Marsee’s OPS now sits at .600 w/ an wRC+ of 79. However, with the weather still being a bit cooler, it’s fair to expect him to heat up as the temperature rises and the ball carries better. 

Friday’s Probables:

Lake Elsinore: TBD

Ft. Wayne: Henry Baez 

San Antonio: Robby Snelling 

El Paso: TBD

Clark E. Fahrenthold

Proud San Diego Native. Attended Sonoma State University, where I received my bachelor’s degree in communications; following my graduation, I returned home to San Diego, where I have worked in the local San Diego media sports scene since 2020.