Monday’s are slow for all of us, and this includes the minor leagues. Only the Padres’ Arizona Complex League affiliate saw game action on Cinco De Mayo, going 0-1 in regular season action.

Here is a recap of the day’s events. 

El Paso Chihuahuas – Off-Day

San Antonio Missions – Off-Day

Fort Wayne TinCaps – Off-Day

Lake Elsinore Storm – Off-Day

ACL Padres (Lost 9-6 vs ACL Royals) (0-2 on the season)

Kale Fountain – 1-for-2, Two-RBI Single

Victor Figueroa – 3-for-4, RBI Double

Langston Burkett – 1.2 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 1 BB, 2 K

Despite a mad five-run ninth inning rally, an early 7-0 deficit was too much for the ACL Padres to overcome in their second game of the season. Starter Langston Burkett was unable to make it out of the second inning, allowing seven runs on eight hits while striking out two. Burkett posted a 9.39 ERA and 2.28 WHIP last season in the ACL, and while he looks to turn a corner in his development with the Padres, this start marked a rough outing from which to learn for the Santa Cruz native. 

Igor Gil made his season debut in relief and struck out five in 3.1 innings of work. Gil tossed 5.1 innings with Single-A Lake Elsinore earlier this season, and in his first ACL action, the left-hander was dominant. Right-hander Jesus Castro had a scoreless inning, while left-hander Ruben Salinas struck out two in 1.2 innings of work. Salinas, a former outfielder, looks to rise above the Complex level with a strong campaign in his second season as a pitcher. 

Victor Figueroa finished with three hits in the game, driving in the Padres’ first run. The first baseman, drafted in the 18th round of the 2024 Draft, has started fairly strongly in his first two professional games. Speaking of strong starts, Kale Fountain had another RBI single, this time scoring two runs. Kai Roberts drew two walks in the game, making his second rehab appearance. Roberts will likely be back with Single-A Lake Elsinore after a few more rehab games, and his plate patience will be welcomed back warmly. Donte Grant had two singles out of the leadoff spot, and each of Jesmaylin Arias and Kevin Hacen scored a run in the game. Despite tallying ten base hits, the team finished 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position, stranding ten runners in the loss.

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.