After a very slow start to the season, El Paso has surged and is in second place in the Pacific Coast League, East Division. The San Antonio Missions are in a tie for first in the Texas League. South Division. Fort Wayne is a trailing fifth in the Midwest League, East Division. Lake Elsinore is third in the California League, South Division.

El Paso Chihuahuas (41-38 record)

Infielder Mason McCoy has excelled since completing his rehab and is currently hitting .325 with a .963 OPS. He has 15 doubles, two triples and seven homers for a .575 slug. He could be the next one to get a chance to DH with the Padres.

Outfielder Tirso Ornelas has improved over the last month and has a .297 average and a .798 OPS. Brandon Lockridge has only had one game since rejoining the Chihuahuas.

Reliever Eduarniel Nuñez has appeared in six games since his promotion with 6.1 IP and 9 K /3 BB with one hit and 0.00 ERA with 2 saves. Nuñez is not on the prospect list, just as David Morgan was not, but is pushing to be the next reliever for the team to take a look at. Logan Gillaspie has pitched 6.2 innings with a 2.70 ERA. He has 8 K’s and no BB, allowing only 5 hits.

Starter Wes Benjamin started the season fighting his command. The lefty has since righted the ship. His 5.76 ERA is due to the early season struggles but in his last two starts he threw 11.1 innings allowing two earned runs with eight hits. He had 14 K/2 BB.

Omar Cruz has run across a rough patch and has a 5.65 ERA over his 36.2 IP. The lefty has 36 K/27 BB, indicating he is struggling with his command.

Matt Waldron had a bad outing this past week, only lasting 2.2 innings and giving up seven hits and five runs. It was bound to happen in the PCL with every ballpark being at elevation and many with dry air. Waldron’s knuckleball is not as effective in those conditions.

San Antonio Missions (41-32 record)

First baseman Romeo Sanabria is hitting .284 with a .745 OPS. He has 6 home runs, 11 doubles, 32 RBI but has 52 K with 21 BB. Improving his contact rate would be a goal for the rest of the season. Infielder Francisco Acuña is hitting .275 with a .778 OPS. He also has 6 homers and 26 RBI but has 62 K and 31 BB. Catcher/1B Brandon Valenzuela is hitting .262 with a .788 OPS and leads the team with 10 homers and 35 RBI.

Reliever Miguel Cienfuegos has a 1.13 ERA in 16 IP with a 70 K/23 BB ratio. Bradgley Rodriguez made his first appearance June 25 after being on the IL with a forearm injury. He threw one inning with a strikeout. He will need to be built up for him to be available to the Padres again.

Starter Henry Baez continues to dominate with a 2.01 ERA in 71.2 IP. He has 70 K and 23 BB. He features a high 90’s fastball with a good curveball and an effective split-change. Baez is on the 40-man roster and is a viable candidate to help the team in the second half, if needed.

Braden Nett has really improved in the last month. His early season numbers were inconsistent while he struggled with control and command. But the last few weeks have shown the gamble the Padres made in signing him could pay off big. He has a consistent upper 90’s fastball with a cutter, slider, curve and a splitter. He started the year as the #9 prospect on MLB.com but has really broken through in June. He started the month with a 4.42 ERA and has had four starts with 22.2 IP and 3 earned runs allowed. In those 4 games he has 28 K and 4 BB. His 1.19 ERA in June would probably earn him a promotion but it isn’t a given that he needs to be exposed to El Paso at this point in his career. He is 23 years old and signed in 2022. He is not on the 40-man roster but that could change if an opening occurs.

Fort Wayne TinCaps (35-37 record)

Infielder Ryan Jackson has played mostly shortstop or third base since his promotion to Fort Wayne. But this past week saw his first start in left field in his career with the organization. His .333 average and .995 OPS has to be kept in the lineup. The team has a regular third baseman (Verdugo) and a regular shortstop (De Vries) so it is reasonable to see if he fits at another position and the outfield is a need in the organization. Jackson has a HR, 8 RBI and a double ins 9 hits in his 27 AB with the TinCaps.

Outfielder Braedon Karpathios continues to slug with 11 doubles, a triple, 9 HR and 36 RBI with a .793 OPS. Third baseman Rosman Verdugo leads the team with 10 HR but has 97 K and a .220 average. Shortstop Leo De Vries had a tremendous start to his season and has struggled since then. He hit .232 in May with no homers and 4 RBI. In June he has one homer with 9 RBI and a .184 average/.623 OPS.

Reliever Tyson Neighbors (#15 prospect, not on the roster) continues his dominance at Fort Wayne. He has thrown 22.2 innings in 18 games with a 1.19 ERA with a 39 K/8 BB ratio. Reliever Garrett Hawkins has a 2.03 ERA in 31 IP and 3 saves. In his first work back from Tommy John surgery, Hawkins (25 yr old, 6-5 and 230 lbs) has four pitches and looks to have late innings potential. He will be promoted to San Antonio if he keeps this up.

Reliever Harry Gustin has also continued to pitch well in his 42.1 IP and also appears ready for a promotion to San Antonio. He has a 2.34 ERA with 49 K and 19 BB.

Starter Eric Yost does not have overpowering heat, he throws his fastball in the low 90’s, but his command has made him an elite pitcher for Fort Wayne. In his 63 IP he has a 2.43 ERA with 67 K/20 BB. Miguel Mendez has started eight games for the TinCaps with 37.1 IP since his promtion. He has a 2.17 ERA with 42 K/18 BB. His fastball sits mid to high 90’s with a plus slider and changeup. Neither of these starters were on MLB’s preseason prospect top 30.

Lake Elsinore Storm (32-41 record)

Newly promoted infielder Yimy Tovar has played in 6 games with 14 AB’s with two doubles an RBI and a .429 average. Catcher/1B Lamar King Jr is hitting .296 with a .835 OPS. Infielder Zach Evans has a .286 average and .730 OPS with a team leading 47 RBI.

Outfielder/DH Kavares Tears leads the team with 8 HR and is hitting .240 with a .709 OPS. Victor Figueroa has played outfield and first base as well as DH in his 29 games with the Storm. He is hitting .245 with a .903 OPS. He has 7 HR and 19 RBI in 102 at bats. Outfielder Kasen Wells still leads with 23 stolen bases and is hitting .283 with a .756 OPS. He has 6 doubles, two triples and a homer for 13 RBI.

Reliever Adam Conrad has pitched 32 innings with a 2.24 ERA in 16 games. He has 34 K and 25 BB and working on control should be his next step but he obviously limits the damage.

Starter Boston Bateman has thrown 56 innings with a 3.54 ERA. He has 63 K and 19 BB. Kash Mayfield has 29 innings and a 3.72 ERA with 46 K and 12 BB.

ACL Padres (10-31 record)

Infielder/outfielder Luis De Leon has settled in at the plate and has a .299 average and a .772 OPS. He leads the team with 19 RBI and 21 BB in his 137 AB. DH/1B Kale Fountain has begun playing regularly at first base after only being the DH when starting his rehab. He could be ready for Lake Elsinore soon.

Starter Cole Paplham has 4.2 innings to start his rehab with a 1.93 ERA.