San Diego Padres minor league affiliates returned to action on Wednesday, going 1-3 in regular-season action. 

Here is a recap of the day’s events. 

El Paso Chihuahuas (Won 7-5 vs Sacramento) (11-12 on the season)

Mike Brosseau – 1-for-3, Three-Run Home Run

Tim Locastro – 1-for-2, Go-Ahead Two-Run Home Run

Stephen Kolek – 5 IP, 6 H, 3 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 4 K (82 pitches – 55 strikes)

A last-minute lineup change wound up paying dividends for the Chihuahuas, ultimately giving the team the 7-5 win over Sacramento. Tim Locastro, added to the lineup as the designated hitter, had the biggest hit of the ballgame. A player not known for his slugging, launched a two-run home run to left center field in the bottom of the eighth inning, giving the Chihuahuas a 7-5 lead. Mike Brosseau also had a home run in the eighth inning, a game-tying homer of the three-run variety. Bryce Johnson continues to hit back in Texas, recording an RBI single and using his speed to score on a wild pitch. Catcher Cody Roberts had a double and scored a run as well. 

Trailing 5-2, Mike Brosseau sails a 3-run homer in the bottom of the eighth to knot the game at 5-5!

Exit Velocity: 101.1mph
Distance: 420ft
Launch Angle: 31deg pic.twitter.com/RVCL3V1f5s

— El Paso Chihuahuas (@epchihuahuas) April 23, 2025

?ALERT?
Tim Locastro goes yard for two runs and the Chihuahuas take a 7-5 lead in the 8th inning!!!
Exit Velocity: 101.4mph
Distance: 424ft
Launch Angle: 29deg pic.twitter.com/cObjK98PbZ

— El Paso Chihuahuas (@epchihuahuas) April 23, 2025

Starter Stephen Kolek pitched another strong game in El Paso, tossing five innings and allowing two earned runs. Kolek’s pitch sequencing allowed him to generate 11 whiffs on 46 swings. The right-hander’s sinker kept the ball on the ground as well, with six of 15 outs coming on the ground. After Randy Vasquez’s clunker at Comerica this week, Kolek looks poised for an opportunity should the call to the majors arrive.

Reliever Jason Blanchard allowed one run in relief, striking out two and continuing to limit hard contact against. Francis Pena allowed one unearned run in the seventh inning. Pena is still ramping up after a late start to the season, but seeing his sinker average 96.7 mph is more in line with his 2024 numbers, showcasing that the right-hander may be getting close to full strength. Ethan Routzahn earned the win with a scoreless eighth inning, with Ron Marinaccio earning the save with a scoreless ninth inning. 

El Paso returns to nighttime baseball on Thursday, with left-hander Wes Benjamin on the mound. 

San Antonio Missions (Lost 4-2 vs Amarillo) (9-8 on the season)

Francisco Acuna – 2-for-5, Home Run

Kai Murphy – 2-for-4, RBI Single

Henry Baez – 4.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 7 K (87 pitches – 55 strikes)

Henry Baez struck out a season-high seven batters in his rematch against Amarillo, allowing two runs on four hits. Baez was efficient and executed his pitches well, using sequencing to keep opponents on their toes. It was not a comfortable time in the batter’s box for Sod Poodles batters, as can be seen on the strikeouts. Baez’s biggest area for growth after last season was rediscovering the strikeout while keeping the walks down, and while it is still early in the season, the right-hander seems to be on a mission. In a preseason interview with Las Mayores, Baez said his goal was to be “the next guy” for the Padres to call up should the team need starting pitching, and even with the replenished depth of the Padres organization, Baez could be on the short list for a call-up with more effective starts like Wednesday’s. Baez 7 (6) Ks-720p30

The Missions’ offense was stymied by Sod Poodles starter Avery Short. The left-hander, who allowed four runs in 0.2 innings last time he faced San Antonio, had a complete 180 in his start, striking out four batters and allowing one run in 6.1 innings. The only Missions run against Short came in the fifth inning, when a rally of singles led to an RBI single off the bat of Kai Murphy. Joshua Mears reached base twice in the game, once via the walk, and was part of the fifth inning rally. 

Singles party for the Missions. Kai Murphy drops in one of his own to tie the game

1-1
T5@EVT_News @StatNerd_Base pic.twitter.com/EGg1mPI83I

— Austin Hartsfield (@HartsfieldPC) April 24, 2025

Jose Espada struck out three batters in 1.1 innings of relief, an impressive showing from the Puerto Rican right-hander. Espada, who spent the 2024 season in NPB, is showcasing his strikeout-caliber stuff at the Double-A level and has been one of the Missions’ most consistent relievers in the early going. Jake Higginbotham allowed two runs in 1.1 innings, surrendering a home run to infielder Tommy Troy in the bottom of the seventh. The Missions’ relief corps will be shorthanded for at least another day, as right-hander Bradgley Rodriguez departed Tuesday’s game with an injury; the diagnosis is yet to be known.

I’m rewatching Bradgley’s outing yesterday he left the game unfortunately with an injury. He gave up a few runs but it was pretty fake and his stuff looked good. He was stretching before leaving hopefully it’s not arm related. pic.twitter.com/PBmVsc5iTE

— Giannis Auntiegotapoodle (@TooMuchMortons_) April 23, 2025

The Missions return to play Thursday in Amarillo, with a matchup to watch: Right-hander Braden Nett (EVT’s Padres No. 8 Prospect) takes the mound against Amarillo southpaw Spencer Giesting (D-Backs No. 18 Prospect per MLB Pipeline). For more on Giesting, here is a scouting report/preview, once again courtesy of The Prospect Times’ Austin Hartsfield:

The most impressive Sod Poodle so far this year, Giesting has lead the Sod Poodles to 3 victories in 3 starts this season. The southpaw has gone at least five innings in all of his outings this season, including five scoreless innings against the Missions on April 8. The Diamondbacks’ #18 prospect is just one strikeout behind the league leaders, and that has been the result of great fastball placement and a really good slider that produced a 52% whiff rate in 2024. A good curveball, cutter, and a changeup finish up his arsenal with pinpoint control over all of them so far in 2025. Giesting has gotten himself in trouble at times this season, but has always worked his way out of it, including facing seven batters with the bases loaded and getting every single one of them out. The Sod Poodles starter has allowed just one run before the sixth inning, and is holding opponent’s to just a single hit with runners in scoring position (.067). Giesting has consistently given Amarillo a shot to win against some of th ebest lineups in the Texas League, and will get another shot against the Missions tomorrow.

Fort Wayne TinCaps (Lost 8-3 vs Lansing) (9-8 on the season)

Leo De Vries – 1-for-4, Triple

Jake Snider – 1-for-3, Triple, RBI

Clark Candiotti – 0.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 1 K (34 pitches – 17 strikes)

One night after a rollercoaster of a ballgame, Fort Wayne’s bullpen was again asked to shoulder a heavy load. Starter Clark Candiotti lasted only two outs, allowing three runs on three hits with two walks. Candiotti threw 34 pitches, 17 of which went for strikes. The right-hander’s command was not there from the start, as when he missed locations, it was not particularly close. Garrett Hawkins had to come on in the first inning to douse the flames, and he was able to escape the inning without allowing any further damage. 

The TinCaps’ lineup made their presence felt in the second and third innings, with the bottom of the order being particularly effective. Nerwilian Cedeno reached base on a single, and Jake Snider tripled to score Cedeno. Snider came around to score when the next batter, Brandon Butterworth, hit a sacrifice fly to center field. Leo De Vries led off the third inning with a triple, his second in two days, and came across with the tying run on a balk by Lansing starter Yunior Tur. 

The bottom of the third saw the game change in favor of Lansing. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases with one out against Garrett Hawkins, and an RBI single from Casey Yamaguchi scored two runs, knocking Hawkins from the game. Left-hander Harry Gustin came on and was able to escape the inning without any further damage. Gusitn was the real hero for the TinCaps’ staff, tossing 4.1 innings of one-run baseball in long relief. He was both efficient (61 pitches for 13 outs) and effective (five strikeouts) on short notice. Nick Wissman allowed a home run in one inning of work in the eighth inning. While the pitching staff did not have their best game, it is hard to win games when your starting pitcher doesn’t escape the first inning and the offense goes 0-for with runners in scoring position. 

Rodney Green, Jr. goes oppo! HR No. ! pic.twitter.com/G3k0JeiBgs

— Lansing Lugnuts (@LansingLugnuts) April 24, 2025

After a tough loss, the TinCaps look to get back in the win column on Thursday, sending right-hander Jose Luis Reyes to the mound.

Lake Elsinore Storm (Lost 9-6 vs Visalia) (5-12 on the season)

Kasen Wells – 3-for-5, Double

Lamar King Jr – 2-for-5, Double, Two Runs

Maikel Miralles – 4 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 8 K (64 pitches – 46 strikes)

Right-hander Maikel Miralles, coming off a pair of relief appearances, made his first start in 12 days and looked like a brand new man. The Storm’s starting pitcher struck out eight batters in four innings of work, looking dominant with his velocity and arsenal. Miralles has not found his groove so far in the season, but this start could be the start of something new for the 20-year-old. Right-hander Adam Conrad was spectacular in long relief, throwing three shutout innings with five strikeouts. The former Carolina University Bruin has made a strong first impression for the Padres organization, and could find himself either in the rotation or high-leverage situations for Lake Elsinore as the season goes on. 

Maikel Miralles

4 IP – 8 SO pic.twitter.com/6V2Q3rs0ru

— Lake Elsinore Storm (@Storm_Baseball) April 24, 2025

The offense did plenty in the early going, with Kasen Wells recording three hits in the ballgame. A three-run sixth inning gave the Storm a 4-3 lead, as two balks and a fielding error allowed Lake Elsinore to flip the scoreboard. Alex McCoy drew a bases-loaded walk in the seventh to extend the lead to two, and Ryan Jackson added on a run in the eighth on an RBI double. Lamar King Jr scored two runs in the ballgame, doubling once and singling for his other hit of the night. The team, however, finished 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position, not the most enlightening figure. 

How did we score three runs and take the lead in the 6th inning?

Balk – One Run
Throwing Error – Two Runs
Balk – Three Runs

Rawhide: 3
Storm: 4 pic.twitter.com/p1R5COHStG

— Lake Elsinore Storm (@Storm_Baseball) April 24, 2025

This became relevant in the ninth inning, as with a 6-3 lead, Mario Zabala started his second inning of work with a walk, triple, and sac fly, exiting the game with the score at 6-5. Bodi Rascon came on and got a flyout for out number two. The third out was a lot harder, as Rascon walked Modeifi Marte and allowed back-to-back singles to Slade Caldwell and Alberto Barriga, tying the game at six. A walk and a single later, Visalia led 8-6 and Rascon was headed for the showers, as Vicarte Domingo came on to end the frame. While Domingo walked in a run, he got out number three on a strikeout. Despite having the tying run in the hole for three straight plate appearances, Lake Elsinore’s bats were unable to push a run across in the bottom of the ninth, falling 9-6 after leading 6-3 after eight innings.

The Storm return to play on Thursday night, with Boston Bateman in line 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.