With June in the rearview mirror, the Padres’ minor league system has seen a slate of strong performances worth noting.

Let’s dive right in, starting with the monthly awards before presenting the All-June Team.

Player of the Month – Kavares Tears

June Stats – .300/.364/.717, 1.081 OPS, 6 HR, 14 RBI, 12 XBH

In his first full season at High-A, Kavares Tears began to show the offensive potential that saw him lead the Lake Elsinore Storm in 2025, and June saw it come front and center. The former Tennessee outfielder led the team in home runs in June, and as of the time of writing, is two home runs shy of tying his previous career-best mark. Tears played in 17 games for the TinCaps in June, hitting an even .300 with a .364 on-base percentage and .717 slugging percentage. Twelve of Tears’ 18 hits in the month went for extra bases, and six of those were home runs. 

Tears opened the month with a boom, as he picked up 11 total bases in his first two games with two home runs and a triple. The TinCaps’ right fielder/designated hitter had his best series when playing the potent Lake County Captains. Against the Guardians’ High-A affiliate, Tears posted a 1.000 OPS, .394 isolated power, and three home runs. Despite a somewhat aggressive approach that saw him post a 23/6 K/BB ratio, the former compensatory fourth-rounder is continuing to show maturity and growth at the dish, which bodes well for his development. 

Other players under consideration – Kerrington Cross, Lake Elsinore/Fort Wayne

Pitcher of the Month – Winyer Chourio

May Stats – 4 GS, 22 IP, 2.86 ERA, 3.76 FIP, 22 K, 9 BB, .228 BAA

After an up-and-down May, right-hander Winyer Chourio showed out in June. The right-hander delivered his highest volume of work in June, as in four starts, Chourio pitched 22 innings to the tune of a 2.86 ERA, striking out 22. The right-hander’s 24.7% strikeout rate was strong over this span, which was not only at Single-A. Chourio threw six innings in back-to-back starts to wrap up the first half, which prompted a promotion to High-A Fort Wayne.

In his TinCaps debut, the right-hander from Merida, Venezuela, pitched five innings of one-run baseball against Lake County, earning the win. Chourio has been a prospect rising into prominence this season, as he has touched as high as 97 mph on the fastball with 7.2 feet of extension off the mound. The right-hander’s high release point and “push off” with his back leg present a unique look for opposing hitters, and if he can rein in the command of his curveball and splitter/changeup with regularity, the north-south arsenal could be part of his path to being an MLB-caliber starter as his time in the system goes on. 

Other players under consideration: Jhony Brito, El Paso

Reliever of the Month: Josh Mallitz

May Stats – 8 G, 13.1 IP, 1.35 ERA, 1.68 FIP, 21 K, 3 BB, .111 BAA

A former undrafted free agent out of Ole Miss, Josh Mallitz has shown a strong ability to land strikes and sequence his stuff in relief. Despite not possessing overpowering velocity (Mallitz sits in the 93-95 mph range on his fastball), the right-hander is still able to pitch high-leverage innings with success.

Mallitz’s June was one of his strongest stretches as a professional, as he pitched to a 1.35 ERA, 1.68 FIP, and struck out 21 of 48 batters faced. Mallitz only gave up five hits in 13.1 innings of work, giving up fewer baserunners than innings pitched. The right-hander’s unique four-pitch mix sees his buckling changeup paired with a mid-80s slider and an occasional sweeper/curveball that sits 78-82 mph. While unconventional for a relief pitcher, Mallitz’s deep arsenal and plus command allow him to be a steady presence in any relief corps, as he was simply dominant for the San Antonio Missions, even picking up two saves in as many save opportunities. 

And now, the EVT Padres Minor League Team of the Month for June~

Position Players:

C – Dayquer Alfonzo (DSL Padres Gold) – .333/.500/.541, 1.041 OPS, 3 HR, 19 RBI, 3 SB

1B – Kerrington Cross (Lake Elsinore/Fort Wayne) – .294/.450/.588, 1.038 OPS, 6 HR, 22 RBI, 11 SB

2B – Justin DeCriscio (Fort Wayne) – .258/324/.430, .754 OPS, 4 HR, 16 RBI, 3 SB

3B – Dawson Willis (ACL/Lake Elsinore) – .280/.341/.537, .878 OPS, 5 HR, 20 RBI, 5 SB

SS – Joniel Hernandez (DSL Padres Gold) – .329/.433/.506, .939 OPS, 1 HR, 24 RBI, 2 SB

LF – Eddson Martinez (DSL Padres Gold/ACL) – .410/.558/.639, 1.197 OPS, 0 HR, 21 RBI, 6 SB

CF – Ryan Wideman (Lake Elsinore/Fort Wayne) – .295/.400/.443, .843 OPS, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 11 SB

RF – Kavares Tears (Fort Wayne) – .300/.364/.717, 1.081 OPS, 6 HR, 14 RBI, 0 SB

DH – Abraham Bastidas (DSL Padres Gold/ACL) – .289/.529/.556, 1.085 OPS, 3 HR, 16 RBI, 4 SB

Pitching Staff:

SP1 – Winyer Chourio (Lake Elsinore/Fort Wayne) – 4 GS, 22 IP, 2.86 ERA, 3.76 FIP, 22 K, 9 BB, .228 BAA

SP2 – Jhony Brito (San Antonio/El Paso) – 5 GS, 23.2 IP, 1.14 ERA, 3.32 FIP, 21 K, 9 BB, .181 BAA

SP3 – Jesus A. Castro (Lake Elsinore) – 5 GS, 20.1 IP, 3.54 ERA, 2.22 FIP, 25 K, 8 BB, .228 BAA

SP4 – Jagger Haynes (San Antonio) – 5 GS, 30.1 IP, 3.56 ERA, 4.81 FIP, 23 K, 13 BB, .185 BAA

RP1 – Josh Mallitz (San Antonio) – 8 G, 13.1 IP, 1.35 ERA, 1.68 FIP, 21 K, 3 BB, .111 BAA

RP2 – Omar Cruz (San Antonio) – 6 G (1 GS), 11.2 IP, 2.31 ERA, 1.52 FIP, 22 K, 3 BB, .171 BAA

RP3 – Landry Jurecka (ACL) – 8 G, 18 IP, 4.00 ERA, 1.27 FIP, 22 K, 2 BB, .274 BAA

RP4 – Andrew Moore (San Antonio/El Paso) – 8 G, 10.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1.82 FIP, 22 K, 10 BB, .063 BAA

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.