Padres minor league affiliates went 2-3 on Tuesday. Here is our daily recap of games played, but first, the week-opening roster roundup. 

Roster Shakeups Aplenty

El Paso – The Chihuahuas made a pair of moves before their series opener. Left-hander Fernando Sanchez was promoted from Double-A to join the pitching staff, and catcher/utilityman Victor Duarte was called up from Single-A to back up Anthony Vilar. In corresponding moves, catcher Colton Vincent and right-hander Triston McKenzie were placed on the development list. 

San Antonio – The Missions welcomed Miguel Mendez and Andrew Dalquist back into the fold, with Mendez coming back from the seven-day injured list. Mendez, who started on Tuesday for the Missions, missed just over two weeks with an undisclosed injury. 

Fort Wayne – The TinCaps made a set of corresponding moves before opening their series in Cedar Rapids. Justin DeCriscio, who hit .363 with a .907 OPS in 28 games with Lake Elsinore, was promoted to High-A. The former NC State standout will serve as a utility infielder/outfielder with the TinCaps, given their current roster construction (he made his first start at High-A playing third base). In a corresponding move, infielder Dylan Grego was reassigned to Single-A Lake Elsinore. Grego, 22, struggled to a .107/.207/.208 slash line in 24 games with the ‘Caps. 

Lake Elsinore – The Storm made a pair of moves before their matinee against Rancho Cucamonga. Ty Harvey was activated off the seven-day injured list; the Padres’ 5th-round pick missed over a month with a left hamstring injury. Victor Duarte was sent up to Triple-A El Paso, with Dylan Grego coming down to Single-A for infield depth. 

ACL Padres – The ACL Padres released Alex Verdugo. The former Dodgers, Red Sox, Yankees, and Braves outfielder had been nursing a shoulder injury throughout Spring Training, but did not see any in-game action with the ACL team. 

And now, onto the evening’s results. 

El Paso Chihuahuas (Lost 11-4 vs Salt Lake) (19-21 on the season)

Nick Solak – 2-for-3, Home Run

Mason McCoy – 2-for-4, RBI Double

Marco Gonzales – 1.1 IP, 5 H, 7 R, 4 BB, 0 K (51 pitches – 27 strikes)

El Paso fell into an early deficit and was unable to overcome a ten-run deficit. The Chihuahuas actually took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, as Will Wagner hit a sacrifice fly to score Jase Bowen. Marco Gonzales allowed one run in the first inning, as a Denzer Guzman double-play ball scored Christian Moore from third base. The second inning was a disaster for the Chihuahuas starter, as Gonzales loaded the bases on two walks and a single. Christian Moore hit an RBI single to give the Bees a 3-1 lead, and Logan O’Hoppe singled to score another run. Denzer Guzman made up for the double play by hitting an inside cutter to left field for a three-run home run. The Bees led 7-1, and Gonzales was done. Misael Tamarez allowed four runs in 2.1 innings, striking out two batters. After early success this season, Tamarez has been charged with ten runs in six innings over his last four appearances. Justin Yeager pitched 2.1 scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Kyle Hart threw a scoreless seventh inning, and Garrett Hawkins struck out one batter in the eighth. After allowing six runs in his first outing of the month, Hawkins has thrown four straight scoreless appearances. 

Salt Lake serves up a six-pack in the 2nd ? pic.twitter.com/jqTWXlkYrI

— Salt Lake Bees (@SaltLakeBees) May 13, 2026

Nick Solak continued his recent stretch of performance with a solo home run in the sixth inning. Solak had two hits in four plate appearances and is hitting .455 in May. Mason McCoy had two hits, including an RBI double. Jose Miranda hit a solo home run in the seventh, his fifth of the season. Carlos D. Rodriguez had two singles in the game, but the team went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position in the loss. 

San Antonio Missions (Won 8-3 vs Wichita) (12-22 on the season)

Ethan Salas – 1-for-5, Home Run, Two RBI

Romeo Sanabria – 2-for-3, Home Run, Double, Three RBI

Miguel Mendez – 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (29 pitches – 20 strikes)

San Antonio launched four home runs in the span of two innings to decisively take the series opener by an 8-3 final. The Missions received a boost from the return of starting pitcher Miguel Mendez, who pitched two innings in his first start back from injury. Mendez looked like his usual self, with his velocity ramping up to 99 mph in the first inning. The right-hander threw 20 of 29 pitches for strikes, striking out two of seven batters faced. Andrew Dalquist threw an inning of scoreless relief, and Andrew Thurman pitched three innings of three-run baseball. The right-hander walked and struck out four in his outing. Josh Mallitz threw a scoreless pair of innings, generating three ground ball outs. Johan Moreno struck out the side in the ninth, lowering his season ERA to 1.53 in 17.2 innings. 

The four-homer barrage was started fittingly by Ethan Salas. Salas launched a two-run home run to right-center field off starter Jose Olivares. For Salas, it was his sixth home run of the season, and he is currently sixth in the Texas League in OPS (and yes, he’s just 19 years of age). Braedon Karpathios one-handed a two-run home run out to dead-center field four batters later. Karpathios’ power tool has a higher upside than some may see, but the swing-and-miss concerns have raised questions about said power. However, the 22-year-old is slashing .364/.462/.606 in May across nine games, with both of his home runs coming in his last three games. Romeo Sanabria channeled some of the “Spring of Sanabria” vibes on Tuesday, finishing with two extra-base hits and three RBI. Sanabria hit the team’s fourth home run of the game, a two-run blast in the second inning to score him and Leandro Cedeno. Luis Verdugo, who has played a sharp third base, mashed his second home run of the season in the first inning. Verdugo, who started the year hitting well, is hitting .258 in May. Carson Tucker drew two walks, scoring one run. 

¡La fiesta ha comenzado en San Antonio!

Ethan Salas’ two-run home run kicks off the game, Missions lead 8-0 after two and a half. @EVT_News pic.twitter.com/2owaqX4IJM

— Diego Garcia (@StatNerd_Base) May 13, 2026

Karp hits it straight out of centerfield! ? pic.twitter.com/3cEr8CA8ZQ

— San Antonio Missions Baseball (@missionsmilb) May 13, 2026

Fort Wayne TinCaps (Lost 3-2 vs Cedar Rapids) (16-18 on the season)

Jack Costello – 1-for-4, RBI Double

Jonathan Vastine – 1-for-2, Home Run, RBI

Matt Watson – 3.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 2 K (63 pitches – 34 strikes)

Fort Wayne and Cedar Rapids have had some of the best-performing pitching staffs in the Midwest League over the past two weeks, and both were put to the test in the series opener. Matt Watson started for Fort Wayne, throwing 3.2 innings of one-run baseball. The right-hander struck out two, recording nine outs on balls in play. Watson has allowed one run in his two starts this season. Clark Candiotti was charged with back-to-back home runs in the seventh inning, which saddled the right-hander with the loss. Candiotti threw 1.2 innings of relief in the game, striking out one. Tucker Musgrove picked up one out in the seventh, and Braian Salazar pitched a scoreless eighth. 

BACK TO BACK home runs for the Kernels as Eduardo Tait hits a solo shot to take the lead! #crkernels #gokerns pic.twitter.com/sQI02Nzbzy

— Cedar Rapids Kernels (@CRKernels) May 13, 2026

Jack Costello got the scoring started with an RBI double in the second inning, scoring Carlos E. Rodriguez. Costello now has a hit in 13 of his last 15 games, and is hitting .311 in that span with eight walks and 10 strikeouts. Jonathan Vastine hit his second home run of the season in the fourth inning, extending the lead to 2-0. Justin DeCriscio made his TinCaps debut in the game, drawing a walk and stealing a base in three plate appearances. Kasen Wells drew two walks, but was unsuccessful in his lone stolen base attempt of the game. 

?Voila From Vastine ?

2-0 ‘Caps pic.twitter.com/JyrLHKXhva

— Fort Wayne TinCaps (@TinCaps) May 13, 2026

Lake Elsinore Storm (Won 4-3 vs Rancho Cucamonga) (20-14 on the season)

Conner Westenburg – 2-for-3, RBI Triple

Kerrington Cross – 2-for-3, RBI Single

Winyer Chourio – 5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 10 K (84 pitches – 59 strikes)

On Education Day at The Diamond, the letter of the day was K (or backwards K, if that’s your choice). Winyer Chourio continues to make a name for himself, as the right-hander struck out a career-best 10 batters in five innings. Chourio generated 19 whiffs in his five frames, a total that led all of Single-A baseball. The right-hander generated all but four outs on strikeouts, with three ground ball outs and a runner caught stealing. Chourio allowed only one fly ball all game, with that being a solo home run. The right-hander currently leads the California League in strikeouts with 42 after his start. Nick Falter pitched 2.1 innings of relief, allowing one run on two hits. Will Koger picked up a five-out save, striking out two of three batters faced in the ninth inning. For Koger, it was his third save in four opportunities, and he now carries a 21-to-8 K: BB ratio in 14 innings this season. 

Winyer Chourio ?

5 IP
6 H
2 ER
10 SO

Presented by Tommy’s Express Car Wash pic.twitter.com/9pkUENbqba

— Lake Elsinore Storm (@Storm_Baseball) May 12, 2026

The offense was somewhat quiet compared to their recent escapades, but managed to bring across four runs in a victorious effort. Conner Westenburg got the scoring started in the third inning, hitting an RBI triple to score Jose Verdugo from first base. Westenburg then took home on a wild pitch by starter Talon Haley, making it 2-0 Storm. Westenburg is now hitting .341 with a .928 OPS despite a ground-ball rate of 64.4% entering the game; the former McNeese State outfielder’s speed allows his current offensive output to translate, but this will certainly be tested as his pro career continues. Kerrington Cross hit two singles, driving in a run in the fourth inning. The former Cincinnati Bearcat has been on fire to start May, slashing .381/.519/.571 in 21 at-bats, drawing more walks than strikeouts. Luke Cantwell drew two walks, scoring a run, and now leads all qualified California League hitters in on-base percentage at an absurd .500 OBP. That’s 50% of the time, y’all. Yoiber Ocopio hit an RBI single in the sixth inning, scoring Cantwell, though Cross was thrown out at home. 

Conner Westenburg for three… BANG!!! The Storm take the lead in the third!#EmbraceTheStorm?️ pic.twitter.com/tf1CBOOvNO

— Lake Elsinore Storm (@Storm_Baseball) May 12, 2026

ACL Padres (Lost 8-7 vs ACL Dodgers in 8 innings) (3-5 on the season)

Alcides Hernandez – 2-for-3, Triple, RBI

Yimy Tovar – 2-for-4, Two Singles, RBI

Jhony Brito – 3 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 2 K 

Jhony Brito made his second rehab start, pitching three innings and allowing four runs. The right-hander struck out two and picked up six outs in play via the ground ball. Brito, who is making his way back from a 2025 Tommy John surgery, threw three innings for a second straight outing and has struck out nine of 26 batters in the ACL. Ty Adcock also made a rehab appearance, striking out two in an inning of relief. Dariel Polanco struck out three in an inning of relief, but was charged with three unearned runs. Florangel Vasquez threw a scoreless sixth with two strikeouts. 

At the dish, Alcides Hernandez drove in a run with a triple. The Padres catcher, who spent most of 2025 on the injured list, is back to health and hitting. While Fabian Alcantara did not record a hit, he did hit into two run-scoring outs and was credited with two RBI. Yimy Tovar drove in a run on an RBI single in the third, finishing the game with two singles. Tovar scored a run in the fifth inning on a wild pitch as well. Jesmaylin Arias hit a sacrifice fly in the seventh to bring the score within one, and a bases-loaded walk to Santiago Contreras scored the game-tying run. Jhoan De La Cruz stole his first base of the season, one of four successful swipes by the Padres in the game.

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.