Padres’ organization players of the week: May 3-9
Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
The San Diego Padres minor league teams began to play this past week, and players all around the organization performed well.
San Diego’s big league club went 3-3 after a tough weekend in San Francisco. Plus, the organization finally began its minor league seasons.
Several players performed well in the opening week of games down on the farm.
Brandon Valenzuela (Lake Elsinore)
Valenzuela opened the season with an ongoing six-game hitting streak. In the opening week of Lake Elsinore’s season, the catching prospect is batting .417 with 10 hits, three home runs, five RBI along with a 1.325 OPS and 253 wRC+.
Ethan Elliott (Fort Wayne)
In Fort Wayne’s opening game of the 2021 season, Elliott took the hill for his first start in High-A. He pitched four innings without allowing a run while striking out nine. The lefty is off to a great start with the TinCaps. He seemed to have carried the momentum from his 2019 season with Lake Elsinore when he posted a 1.77 ERA in 12 starts.
Robbie Podorsky (San Antonio): 10-for-23, .435 avg, 2B, 2 3B, 8 R, 5 RBI,1.171 OPS, 216 wRC+
The 26-year-old outfielder is off to a hot start in San Antonio. On Opening Day, he went a stellar 4-for-5 with an RBI, stolen base, and two runs scored. After Sunday’s action, he possesses a six-game hitting streak to open the season. He added a double and two triples to his line for the week.
A triple from Robbie Podorsky, followed by an RBI grounder from Abrams and the Missions are inching closer heading into the 7th pic.twitter.com/ERPUYgrSX2
— San Antonio Missions Baseball (@missionsmilb) May 8, 2021
Jake Cronenworth (Padres)
With the Padres struggling mightily with the bats this week, Cronenworth was one of the only ones consistently getting on base. He is currently in the midst of a five-game hitting streak and hit .364 over the week. In three of the last four games, he collected multiple hits. On Sunday, he finished the week with an exclamation point with a mammoth home run into McCovey Cove and added a double. His .962 OPS led the team by almost 200 points in the six games this week.
Cronenworth to the cove 🌊
The @Padres jump out to an early lead! #HungryForMore pic.twitter.com/GeBDpnkgtg
— Bally Sports San Diego (@BallySportsSD) May 9, 2021
Craig Stammen(MLB)
The 37-year-old continues to be one of the most valuable arms of the Padres’ pitching staff. He was once again pressed into duty early in the game after Miguel Diaz went three innings to start Monday’s game against the Pirates. He pitched two scoreless innings, and the Padres were able to win the game with the bullpen pitching the majority of the game. He made three appearances this week without allowing a run in 3 1/3 innings. In Wednesday’s win over the Pirates, he took over for Yu Darvish and got a key out which led to him earning the victory. He struck out the side in his last appearance against the Giants on Friday.
Native of Escondido, CA. Lived in San Diego area for 20 years. Padres fan since childhood (mid-90s). I have been writing since 2014. I currently live near Seattle, WA and am married to a Seattle sports girl. I wore #19 on my high school baseball team for Tony Gwynn. I am a stats and sports history nerd. I attended BYU on the Idaho campus. I also love Star Wars.