Padres On The Farm: July 7 (Rosario & Ornelas Each Homer In El Paso Win)
Credit: El Paso Chihuahuas
San Diego Padres affiliates went 1-0 on Sunday.
Here is a recap of the day’s events.
El Paso: 6-2 Win against Albuquerque (37-50, 4th PCL EAST)
El Paso was able to pick up in the Sunday night win against the Isotopes by the final of 6-2, pushing their season record to 37-50 in 2024.
Offensively, it would be the more well-known El Paso names who would leave their mark on Sunday night’s win, as both Eguy Rosario and Tirso Ornelas would go two for four with home runs. Rosario and Ornelas home runs would be back-to-back shots in the bottom of the fifth.
For Rosario, Sunday night’s performance is nothing new, as he has raked against PCL pitching all season, posting a 146 wRC+, .432 wOBA, and .622 Slug%.
In the PCL, numbers and contact data tend to be inflated, but that is not the case for Rosario, as he boasts a 42.6% Hard Hit %, 8.1% Barrel Rate, and 32.7% Sweet Spot%. His contact is loud and constant, even by Triple-A standards.
Along with the impressive night at the dish, Rosario also made his first career appearance in the outfield on Sunday. There, he would look fluid, with his first step and closing speed being solid. This is something that should not come as too big of a shock considering his 55-speed grade that has clocked him at 4.32 home-to-first.
He would also show his 60-grade arm, as he would record an outfield assist from right field in the top of the third inning.
Tirso Ornelas’s recent hot streak continued. Since June 1, the Padres’ No.25 prospect has posted a 134 wRC+, .413 wOBA, and .560 Slug%. However, Ornelas’s batted ball data is a bit interesting.
With a 38.9% Hard hit and 5.4% Barrel Rate, the ball doesn’t always jump off his bat explosively. Yet, with a 33.5% Sweet Spot%, he is still finding the middle of the bat often enough to make a constant offensive impact.
His overall power numbers may be a bit inflated due to playing in El Paso, but it appears he could be a viable fourth outfield option for the Padres, if needed.
On the bump, the standout performance would come from closer Logan Gillaspie. The right-hander would strike out the side in the 9th, lowering his ERA to 3.99, a very solid number given the hitter-friendly parks of the PCL.
With just a 16.4% K%, Gillaspie relies on his ability to generate ground ball and soft contact. Something he has succeeded at posting a 43% GB%.
Monday’s Probable Pitchers:
El Paso: Off Day
San Antonio: Off Day
Fort Wayne: Off Day
Lake Elsinore: Off Day
ACL: TBD
DSL Gold: TBD
DSL Brown: TBD
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.