The Padres’ minor league affiliates returned to action on Tuesday, going 0-1 in regular season action.

Here is a recap of the night’s events.

El Paso Chihuahuas (Lost 4-1 vs Oklahoma City) (2-2 on the season)

Luis Campusano – 1-for-4, Home Run

Yonathan Perlaza – 1-for-4, Double, Stolen Base

Wes Benjamin – 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K (51 pitches, 31 strikes)

In their first road game of the season, the El Paso offense faced off against the newly renamed Oklahoma City Comets. Wes Benjamin took the mound for El Paso. Given that Benjamin threw 39 pitches during the season opener, he was likely to be on a pitch count, but even so, the southpaw delivered a quality outing. Benjamin delivered three scoreless innings for the Chihuahuas, striking out two and walking two. As a left-handed sinkerballer, Benjamin managed to keep the ball on the ground against the Comets, with three of nine outs coming via the grounder. 

Facing left-hander Justin Wrobleski for the Comets, the El Paso offense was unable to generate much momentum. The Comets’ starter scattered three hits, including a double off the bat of Yonathan Perlaza. However, when El Paso would get runners on, they were aggressive in putting them in motion (much like their Major League affiliate). The Chihuahuas managed three stolen bases off the battery of Wrobleski and Dalton Rushing, with Perlaza joined by Mason McCoy and Clay Dungan in the stolen base column. 

El Paso’s pitching staff blinked first, as Raul Brito surrendered a sacrifice fly to infielder Alex Freeland, allowing Hunter Feduccia to beat the throw home from Chihuahuas left fielder Brett Sullivan. The 1-0 lead would not last much longer, as in the top of the sixth inning, facing new pitcher Ryan Sublette, Luis Campusano turned on an up-and-middle-in sinker and launched it to deep left field, tying the ballgame at one run apiece. It was Campusano’s first homer of the young season, and if his adjustments at the plate over the offseason continue to lead to production (along with a lower ground ball rate), it could secure his ticket back to the bigs. 

Luis Campusano trying to join The Hurt Syndicate with the hurting he put on this baseball ?@epchihuahuas | @Padres | @AEW pic.twitter.com/L5fnuwqlFK

— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) April 2, 2025

However, the enthusiasm the Chihuahuas received after the homer was quickly doused. With a runner on and one out in the bottom of the inning, Raul Brito hung a 74.1 mph curveball to Michael Chavis, and the former Red Sox slugger sent the baseball to the left field pavilion, giving the Comets a 3-1 lead and chasing Brito from the game. Tom Cosgrove came on to close out the inning, but a Hyseong Kim double and Hunter Feduccia single promptly extended the lead to 4-1 for the home team. Cosgrove was able to induce a 4-6-3 double play to escape the inning, but the Chihuahuas were now down by three. 

Michael Chavis goes deep for the lead! pic.twitter.com/2ijp2sFi0G

— Oklahoma City Comets (@OKC_comets) April 2, 2025

Kevin Kopps pitched the next two frames for El Paso, leaning heavily on his cutter and curveball to record two scoreless frames. Kopps is another young arm who could be in the mix for an MLB bullpen assignment this season, as he has shown improvements in his command and location this season in three innings so far. Despite the valiant effort, it would not be enough to allow El Paso to secure the comeback. Facing right-hander Sam Carlson, Brett Sullivan and Yonathan Perlaza were punched out for the first two outs of the ninth inning, and with no runners on, Mike Brosseau grounded out to third base to end the game. 

Reinforcements for El Paso?

Before today’s game, the Padres announced that utilityman Tyler Wade had cleared optional assignment waivers and accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A El Paso. It is not known yet when Wade will join the active roster, but he could provide the team depth in the middle infield, third base, and the outfield. Fellow utilityman Eguy Rosario, designated for assignment before Opening Day, could also be on the way to El Paso within the next 24 hours should a trade or waiver claim fail to materialize. 

The Chihuahuas return to action against the Comets on Wednesday at 5:05 pm Pacific.

El Paso has yet to announce a starter, though Ryan Bergert is a candidate to start on four days’ rest.

Diego Garcia

A born and raised San Diegan, Diego Garcia is a lifetime Padres fan and self-proclaimed baseball nerd. Diego wrote about baseball on his own site between 2021-22 before joining the East Village Times team in 2024. He also posts baseball content on his YouTube channel “Stat Nerd Baseball”, creating content around trades, hypotheticals, player analyses, the San Diego Padres, and MLB as a whole.

A 2024 graduate of San Diego State, Diego aims to grow as a writer and content creator in the baseball community.