San Diego Padres affiliates went 3-0 on Monday.

Here is a recap of the day’s events.

Padres ACL, 4-3 Win v. White Sox ACL

Lamar King Jr. sparked the Padres ACL in their game on Monday night against the White Sox ACL team, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. 

A fourth-round pick in 2022, King Jr. is returning this season after getting right shoulder surgery last October. King is a very raw product, and his frame is very similar to that of his father, Lamar King, who played in the NFL and was a former first-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks. 

He has flashed some serious raw power and has already started to shorten his swing and bat path, which is a good thing as some scouts viewed it as too long when coming out of high school. As a defender, he moves very well as a catcher and has started to see some improvements in his receiving skills. 

In 77 plate appearances at the CPX, he’s posted a 110 wRC+, .386 wOBA, and 11.7 BB%

On the mound, Ruben Salinas would flash for the Padres ACL team, punching out five in 2 ⅓ innings of work.  Salinas is as interesting a name as he was, and still perhaps is, viewed and signed as a two-way player. This season on the bump, Salinas has been impressive, posting a 24.1% K% and holding opponents to a .196 batting average. 

DSL Padres Gold (9-6) Def. DSL Baltimore 7-6. 

For Dariel Polanco, Monday’s outing was the best of his season as he worked five innings allowing just two earned runs, one five hits, no walks, and two punch outs. The 18-year-old from Gaspar Hernandez, Dominican Republic, it was a step in the right direction, as in his prior two starts, he allowed four or more runs. 

 Coming in at middle relief for the DSL Gold would be Darlin Mendez. Mendez, who had walked three in his prior outing on June 21, would have much better command on Monday. 

 The 19-year-old worked 2.2 IP, allowing one run, which came via a solo shot but managed to punch out five. Coming into this outing, Mendez was walking hitters at a 20.0% BB% but was holding opposing hitters to a sub. 200 batting average. The point is, for the 19-year-old, command is key. 

 At the dish, the brightest performance of the day would come from Yimy Tovar. The 18-year-old went 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI. In just 14 games this season Tovar has flashed in a big way with a 136 wRC+ and .440 wOBA. 

 His plate discipline numbers are also quality, as he’s posted a 21.3% BB% to just an 8.2% K%

DSL Padres Brown(3-11) win 5-2 against DSL Rays

The DSL Padres Brown took home the win against the DSL Rays by a final of 5-2, just their third win of the season. 

 Two pitchers would steal the show for the Padres as Manuel Davila and Johan Minaya would combine to hold the Rays to just two runs. 

Davila would work five innings and allow just one run on three hits and two walks while striking out five. It was a good rebound outing for the 16-year old, after, in his last outing, he allowed five earned runs. 

For being just 16 years old, Davila has had no issue racking up strikeouts. He owns a 31.6% K% this season to go with a 3.18 FIP and 3.79 xFIP. Along with his high K%, he has limited the walks, as his BB% sits at just 7.9%. 

 Johan Minaya would follow Davila by working four innings, also striking out five, while surrendering one earned run on three hits and two walks. With his four innings of work, Minaya lowers his ERA to 2.45. 

However, with a 6.12 FIP and 5.97 xFIP, things do seem to indicate he is getting a tad lucky at times with the batted-ball results in his opponents are getting. 

Tomorrow’s Probable Pitchers:
El Paso: TBD
San Antonio: Jared Kollar 
Fort Wayne: TBD
Lake Elsinore: TBD
ACL: TBD
DSL Gold: TBD
DSL Brown: TBD

Clark E. Fahrenthold

Proud San Diego Native. Attended Sonoma State University, where I received my bachelor’s degree in communications; following my graduation, I returned home to San Diego, where I have worked in the local San Diego media sports scene since 2020.