Padres Down on the Farm: June 17 (Karpathios homers, Willis debuts for Storm)
Credit: Missions
Padres minor league affiliates went 3-1 on Wednesday.
Let’s dive into the day’s action.
El Paso Chihuahuas (Won 9-6 vs Reno) (33-38 on the season)
Bryce Johnson – 1-for-4, Two-RBI Double
Anthony Vilar – 1-for-2, Two-Run Home Run
German Marquez – 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 3 K (73 pitches – 43 strikes)
Right-hander German Marquez’s fourth rehab start lasted five innings, as the rehabbing Padres pitcher threw 73 pitches in his longest outing yet. Marquez allowed three runs on five hits, generating whiffs on 21% of swings. Marquez’s curve continued to be the headliner of his arsenal, and his slider saw a minor uptick in usage (15% compared to a 10% season average. Sean Boyle allowed a solo home run in one inning of relief, his first homer allowed since May 23. Logan Gillaspie allowed two runs (one earned) in one inning of work, striking out one. Alek Jacob threw two scoreless innings to close out the win on 26 pitches, striking out one.
Bryce Johnson made his return to the Chihuahuas lineup at the leadoff spot. The man known affectionately as “Beej” made an impact from the word “go”, as he hit a go-ahead two-run double in the fifth inning. Carlos Rodriguez had two hits, including a double, and drove in two runs. Nate Mondou hit a game-tying double in the third inning, scoring two runs. Mondou also drew two walks, which played a role in the Chihuahuas’ offensive output. Anthony Vilar drove in two runs on his third home run of the season; the former 2021 15th-round pick has been the de facto starter since Rodolfo Duran was promoted, and has held his own. Mason McCoy homered in the win, reaching base on two occasions.
Anthony Vilar launches his third homer of the season to the Big Dog House! The two-run shot extends the Chihuahuas lead to 7-4 in the sixth. pic.twitter.com/8jIaiQRw20
— El Paso Chihuahuas (@epchihuahuas) June 18, 2026
San Antonio Missions – Split Doubleheader vs Corpus Christi (28-37 on the season)
Missions Won 4-3 in Game 1
Tirso Ornelas – 1-for-3, Three-Run Home Run
Braedon Karpathios – 1-for-3, Single, Go-Ahead RBI Walk
Eric Yost – 6 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 2 K (76 pitches – 46 strikes)
In the first game of a doubleheader, right-handers Eric Yost and Josh Mallitz combined to throw a two-hitter in a 4-3 Missions win. Yost reached 76 pitches across six innings, striking out two batters. The Missions’ starter held the Hooks to two hits, with only one going for extra bases. However, the right-hander hit three batters and threw a wild pitch. Two of three runs against Yost were scored by batters who were hit by a pitch, and his lone wild pitch of the outing scored a run. Yost retired 11 of 13 batters to end his outing, with a runner caught stealing aiding in his sixth inning. Josh Mallitz retired all three batters he faced to pick up his third save of the season, striking out one.
In game 1, the @FrostBank Player of the Game is Eric Yost! pic.twitter.com/jH5fqzZqNk
— San Antonio Missions Baseball (@missionsmilb) June 17, 2026
The Missions pushed across three runs in the first inning to take an early lead. Ryan Jackson led off with a single, and Ethan Salas drew a walk. Romeo Sanabria struck out, but both baserunners pulled off a double steal to move into scoring position. Tirso Ornelas then hit a hanging changeup out to right field, over the Missions bullpen for a three-run home run. For the 26-year old, it was his seventh home run of the season. The Missions also did not have much success offensively either, held to five hits by the Hooks. However, San Antonio drew seven walks, which became a critical part of a seventh-inning rally. Salas’ third walk of the day put a runner on with two outs, and Romeo Sanabria singled. With runners on first and third, Tirso Ornelas walked to load the bases. Braedon Karpathios stepped up and fell behind 1-2, but then laid off three straight pitches to draw a bases-loaded walk, driving in the go-ahead run. Karpathios’ walk was his eleventh of the month in 12 games played this month, and he has a .472 on-base percentage in 53 plate appearances this month.
TIRSOOOO ORNELASSSS ☄️
3-Run HR from Tirso gets us on the board early! pic.twitter.com/wQq3zZCkhV
— San Antonio Missions Baseball (@missionsmilb) June 17, 2026
Missions Lost 7-4 in Game 2
Braedon Karpathios – 1-for-3, Home Run, Two RBI
Francisco Acuna – 2-for-3, Home Run, Triple, RBI
Miguel Mendez – 3 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 5 K (71 pitches – 42 strikes)
The Missions dropped the second game of the twin bill, as the bullpen allowed five runs in three innings of relief. Starter Miguel Mendez pitched three innings of two-run baseball, picking up five strikeouts. The right-hander labored through a 33-pitch second inning that saw him allow three runs. Two of his three walks came in the inning, and Mendez also threw a wild pitch, which scored a run. Even with the laborious outing, Mendez picked up 14 swings and misses on 42 strikes, touching the high-90s. If Mendez is better able to limit deep counts from opposing hitters, his chances at continued success as a starting pitcher only continue to get higher. The stuff is there, for sure. Johan Moreno entered in the fourth inning for just the third time this season, and his command was not its usual self. Only nine of Moreno’s 26 pitches landed as strikes, and he allowed three walks. Moreno was charged with two runs, both scoring on a double by Lucas Spence. Harry Gustin allowed two baserunners with two outs in the fifth, and was one strike away from getting out of the inning. Jax Biggers hit the 3-2 pitch down the first base line slowly, and Gustin charged to make the play. Gustin’s throw to first tailed towards the baseline and past Romeo Sanabria, allowing two runs to score. Biggers reached third, and a pitch that got away from Gustin allowed him to score. Clark Candiotti, on for the third time in five days, struck out two in a scoreless sixth. Candiotti has struck out 27.1% of batters since being promoted to Double-A.
Francisco Acuna had two extra-base hits in the loss. Acuna hit a triple in the sixth, but his second-inning home run was the more notable of his base hits. Tirso Ornelas hit a second-inning double as well. Ornelas scored on Braedon Karpathios’ fifth home run of the season, a two-run blast to left-center field. Karpathios’ swing looks much more comfortable after his slow start to the season. Romeo Sanabria reached base three times in the loss, drawing two walks. Brendan Durfee caught in the second game, drawing a walk at the plate. Defensively, Durfee threw out one of five stolen base attempts by Corpus Christi.
KARPE DIEM! ?
Karpathios hits a 2-run HR in game 2! pic.twitter.com/Aw065rssXS
— San Antonio Missions Baseball (@missionsmilb) June 18, 2026
Acuña with ANOTHER homer for the Missions in game 2!! ? pic.twitter.com/gBluLhPOQw
— San Antonio Missions Baseball (@missionsmilb) June 18, 2026
Fort Wayne TinCaps – Rained out vs South Bend
The TinCaps’ regularly scheduled Pufferbellies Night at home was rained out against the South Bend Cubs. The teams will play a doubleheader on June 18. Maikel Miralles will likely take the ball in Game 1, while Carson Montgomery is set to start the nightcap.
Lake Elsinore Storm (Won 7-5 vs San Jose) (38-27 on the season)
Dawson Willis – 3-for-5, Two Doubles, Three RBI
Qrey Lott – 2-for-4, Home Run, Three RBI
Jesus A. Castro – 5 IP, 7 H, 4 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 3 K (81 pitches – 51 strikes)
Right-hander Jesus A. Castro allowed a season-high four runs in five innings. Four runs being a season-high speaks to the kind of run Castro has been on; the right-hander struck out three batters, picking up six outs on the ground. The right-hander has become a fixture for the Storm’s rotation, and based on his age and prior workload, look for him to be one of the team’s playoff starters come September. Joseph Herrera threw a scoreless inning in relief, earning the win. Daichi Moriki threw two innings in relief, allowing one unearned run. The right-hander threw 21 of 31 pitches for strikes, and if he continues to pitch with a similar strike rate to this, his development could make strides. Will Koger threw a scoreless ninth to seal the win, picking up his sixth save of the season.
With a playoff berth clinched, Lake Elsinore rested some of their regulars, but a pair of players stepping into the lineup made an impact. Dawson Willis hit two doubles, just missing his first Single-A home run by a matter of feet on a double in the third. Willis went 3-for-5 in his Single-A debut, picking up right where he left off in the desert. Qrey Lott had two hits, including a two-run home run in the seventh inning. Lott swiped two of the Storm’s three stolen bases in the game. Conner Westenburg hit two singles, scoring a pair of runs in the win. Yimy Tovar hit a single and scored a run, while Bradley Frye made his return to the lineup, playing shortstop.
ACL Padres – Off Day
DSL Padres – Both Teams on Off Day
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.