San Diego Padres minor league affiliates continued their regular seasons under the Friday night lights, going 4-0 in game action. 

Here is a recap of the night’s events. 

El Paso Chihuahuas (Won 13-6 vs Albuquerque) (8-11 on the season)

Mason McCoy – 3-for-5, Two Doubles, Four RBI

Trenton Brooks – 2-for-5, Two Singles, Three RBI

Wes Benjamin – 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 1 K (66 pitches – 38 strikes)

El Paso’s offense had another strong showing in the high altitude of Albuquerque, scoring 13 runs, 10 of which came in the fifth inning. Mason McCoy continues to hit, hit, and hit more, finishing with yet another three-hit game. McCoy had two doubles, which scored four runs combined, with his highlight being a bases-clearing double in the fifth inning. Trenton Brooks shook off a couple 0-for’s with his first multi-hit game since April 10, singling twice and hitting a sacrifice fly, adding three RBI to his season tally (now sitting at 21 in 17 games). Bryce Johnson made his season debut for El Paso after being acquired from the Pirates organization on April 16, and singled twice, driving in one run. With the Padres thin on center field depth that is near-MLB ready, Johnson adds another internal option for San Diego’s big league ball club. Yonathan Perlaza continues to rake, reaching base three times in the game and driving in a run, raising his season OPS to 1.018 in 15 games. 

Bryce is so back baby. pic.twitter.com/BpgzCOC7nW

— El Paso Chihuahuas (@epchihuahuas) April 19, 2025

Wes Benjamin had something of a bounceback outing after being torched in his last start (4 IP, 8 ER). The soft-tossing left-hander rattled off five innings of three-run baseball, striking out one and walking four. Benjamin did not have his best stuff in the game, as his average fastball velocity (88.3 mph) was three miles per hour slower than his season average (91.3). Benjamin countered with more cutters, seemingly following a game plan laid out by the El Paso pitching staff to counter the altitude, and it worked for the most part. Andrew Bellatti, fresh off being activated from the ACL Padres, made his El Paso debut, allowing two runs while only recording two outs. It was a rough first outing for the former Steele Canyon High School product, but Bellatti will likely see more action with El Paso as bullpen depth. Kevin Kopps tossed 2.1 innings of long relief, allowing a run and striking out one, while doing the unthinkable: throwing a sinker. Kopps has leaned heavily on his curve and cutter this season, so seeing the sinker back in action was a blink-and-you ’ll-miss-it moment. Francis Pena closed out the game with a scoreless ninth inning, flashing his revamped slider, with 4.4 inches of sweep presenting movement that looks vertical from the broadcast. 

El Paso returns to play Saturday, with a starter yet to be announced. With El Paso’s five-man rotation, left-hander Austin Krob appears likely to start. 

San Antonio Missions (Won 4-3 in 10 innings vs Northwest Arkansas) (9-4 on the season)

Marcos Castanon – 1-for-4, Walk-off Single

Devin Ortiz – 1-for-4, Two RBI

Braden Nett – 4 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 6 K (77 pitches – 43 strikes)

Marcos Castanon’s RBI single in the bottom of the tenth inning led to a walk-off win for the Missions on Friday night. The team’s offense collected seven hits and walked seven times, going 3-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Brandon Valenzuela continues to swing a hot bat, posting his first three-hit game of the season. His double off Naturals starter Ben Kudrna was the lone extra base hit the Missions had on the night. Kai Murphy reached base three times in five plate appearances from the leadoff spot, singling twice and drawing a walk while scoring a run. Devin Ortiz had one single in the ballgame, but his sixth-inning single against reliever Chazz Martinez scored two runs, giving San Antonio a 3-1 lead at the time. 

On the mound, Braden Nett had another strong outing all around. The surging right-hander delivered four innings of one-run baseball, striking out six batters. Nett’s first inning was not an easy one, throwing 30 pitches and surrendering a solo home run, but Nett was able to battle his way through, even without his best command. Nett’s six strikeouts featured five swinging strikeouts, including a dropped third strike. While it wasn’t his most efficient outing this season, it was nonetheless a good day in the pros. 

Braden Nett

4.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Ks, 2 BB, 4 H, 77 pitches

Not his sharpest outing had a tough first inning but battled pic.twitter.com/R9SJrPpxdJ

— Giannis Auntiegotapoodle (@TooMuchMortons_) April 19, 2025

Jake Higginbotham tossed two scoreless innings in relief of Nett, striking out four. The former Tigers farmhand has found his footing with San Antonio after allowing eight earned runs in 2.1 innings with Triple-A El Paso (30.86 ERA, 13.56 FIP). Ryan Och entered in the eighth inning and, with two outs, allowed a pair of singles to put the tying run on base. Missions manager Luke Montz called on Bradgley Rodriguez to face Jordan Groshans with two outs, and Groshans turned on a Rodriguez fastball low and in, lining it to left field. Both runners came around to score, tying the game at three runs apiece. Rodriguez threw a scoreless ninth, and Jose Espada struck out the side in the tenth inning to keep the game tied. 

Facing reliever Caden Monke in the bottom of the tenth inning, Brandon Valenzuela singled, and Romeo Sanabria was intentionally walked, loading the bases with no outs. Moises Gomez struck out for out number one, and Devin Ortiz hit a ground ball, leading to a forceout at home. Marcos Castanon stepped up the the plate with two outs, and on the first pitch grounded one to the left side. The third out would not be recorded, as Castanon was safe at first base, scoring Valenzuela to give San Antonio a 4-3 win.

Jackson Wolf takes the mound on Saturday, looking to extend the Missions’ three-game winning streak. 

Fort Wayne TinCaps (Won 11-8 vs Lake County) (8-5 on the season)

Rosman Verdugo – 2-for-4, Home Run

Jack Costello – 2-for-5, Two Singles, Three RBI

Enmanuel Pinales – 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 8 K (75 pitches – 49 strikes)

Fort Wayne fought off a late Captains rally to seal an 11-8 victory in front of their home crowd. Right-hander Enmanuel Pinales struck out eight batters in five innings, yet another dominant outing. Pinales’ fastball reached 97 mph on Friday, with his strikeouts coming mostly on the fastball. Three of the eight came on offspeed pitches as well, with his curveball and slider exhibiting strong horizontal and vertical break. 

24-year old @TinCaps starter Enmanuel Pinales with another strong outing, striking out 8 w/ a fastball that hit MPH. Gave up 5 hits, 2 ER, 1 BB over 5 IP on a warm night at @ParkviewField where the ball is flying! @John_G_Nolan on the call! @PadresProspects @madfriars pic.twitter.com/N83wMVSv5L

— Glenn Marini (@GlennMariniWANE) April 19, 2025

The TinCaps scored their first run of the ballgame on a solo home run off the bat of Braedon Karpathios, his first of the season. An errant pickoff attempt scored the go-ahead run for Fort Wayne, and Nerwilian Cedeno scored the third TinCaps run on a balk. Jack Costello had back-to-back innings with RBI singles, with his fourth-inning single scoring two runs. The fifth inning saw three runs scoring, with Rosman Verdugo homering yet again, and Leo De Vries hitting an RBI double. While the score was at 9-2 after five, Lake County chipped away against Tyler Morgan, scoring five runs on four hits against the right-hander. With the lead at two entering the eighth inning, Elker Huizi was called on for the eighth, keeping the game at two runs. Rosman Verdugo tripled to score a run in the bottom of the eighth, and Nerwilian Cedeno scored Verdugo on an RBI single. While Huizi surrendered a run in the eighth inning, he was able to close out the game, securing his first save of the season. 

Rosman Verdugo keeps the HR steak alive! pic.twitter.com/SNCHJfIEjA

— Fort Wayne TinCaps (@TinCaps) April 19, 2025

Isaiah Lowe takes the mound for Fort Wayne in their next game, with first pitch scheduled for Saturday at 10:05 am Pacific. 

Lake Elsinore Storm (Won 19-6 vs Fresno) (4-9 on the season)

Alex McCoy – 3-for-6, Grand Slam

Sean Barnett – 2-for-5, Three-Run Home Run

Miguel Mendez – 2.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 5 K (53 pitches – 37 strikes)

In a game that ended reminiscent of a football score, Lake Elsinore cranked out 16 hits and 10 walks en route to a 19-6 win. Alex McCoy set the tone early, hitting a first-inning grand slam deep to left field, giving Lake Elsinore a 4-0 lead in the top of the first. Sean Barnett added another home run in the second, with a three-run home run to put the Storm up 7-0. Ryan Wilson had three base hits, including an RBI double, and Kasen Wells finished 2-for-7 out of the leadoff spot. Lake Elsinore went for the touchdown in the ninth inning, scoring seven runs. Sean Barnett drew an RBI walk, Lamar King Jr had a sacrifice fly, and B.Y. Choi cleared the bases on a fielding error from Fresno left fielder Kevin Fitzer. Ryan Wilson’s third hit capped off the Storm’s scoring at 19. 

Touch em all!

Alex McCoy’s first professional home run is a grand slam! pic.twitter.com/zuHEeV0u2G

— Al Scott (@AlScott1998) April 19, 2025

Three-run Homer for Sean Barnett (2)

Lake Elsinore up 7-1 in the second inning pic.twitter.com/QFJ1SETgrm

— Al Scott (@AlScott1998) April 19, 2025

Right-hander Miguel Mendez made his season debut starting for Lake Elsinore. The outing was not his sharpest, as he allowed five runs in 2.1 innings. However, there were signs of positive performance, as he threw strikes on 69.8% of offerings and struck out five batters. Adam Conrad made his professional debut, striking out three in two scoreless innings. In relief of Conrad, Maikel Miralles tossed three innings of two-run ball. Miralles, who started the team’s Opening Day game, looks ticketed to remain in the bullpen after allowing seven earned runs in 4.2 innings in his first two starts. While he still has the makeup of a starter, it is likely he works in relief for the short term. The Storm’s pitching staff combined to strike out eleven in the ballgame, and Miralles secured his first save of the season in the win. 

The Storm return to play Saturday at 6:50 pm, with Bryan Balzer set to start. 

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.