AVANDATIMES.COM – The San Diego Padres initiated their second significant wave of roster adjustments during spring training on Thursday, March 5, reducing their Major League camp by nine players. This strategic move brings the total number of athletes remaining in camp to 59 as the team intensifies preparations for the upcoming season.
The cuts involved the reassignment of eight players to minor league camp, alongside the optioning of one promising pitcher to Double-A San Antonio. Right-handed pitchers Sean Boyle, Evan Fitterer, Francis Peña, and Ethan Routzahn were among those reassigned. Infielders Marcos Castanon and Romeo Sanabria, infielder/outfielder Clay Dungan, and catcher Brendan Durfee also received reassignments.
The lone player optioned was right-handed pitcher Miguel Mendez, who will report to Double-A San Antonio. The Padres confirmed these changes via their official channels, stating:
We have reassigned RHPs Sean Boyle, Evan Fitterer, Francis Peña and Ethan Routzahn, INFs Marcos Castanon and Romeo Sanabria, INF/OF Clay Dungan and C Brendan Durfee to minor league camp and optioned RHP Miguel Mendez to Double-A San Antonio. With today’s moves, we now have 59…
These roster decisions are a standard part of the spring training progression, designed to refine the team’s composition ahead of Opening Day. AvandaTimes notes that the Padres are expected to conduct several more rounds of cuts in the coming weeks to finalize their 26-man roster.
Key Players Affected by Roster Adjustments
The nine players involved in this round of cuts represent a mix of seasoned minor leaguers and developing prospects, each bringing a unique profile to the Padres organization.
Miguel Mendez Leads Optioned Prospect
Miguel Mendez, 23, stands out as the Padres’ No. 3 ranked prospect for 2026, according to MLB Pipeline. He reached Double-A in 2025, where he posted an 8.06 ERA across 22.1 innings. This spring, Mendez made two appearances, allowing six earned runs over two innings of work.
Reassigned Pitchers and Position Players
Sean Boyle (RHP, 29): Signed a minor league deal this offseason after eight years with the New York Yankees organization. He has pitched in Triple-A for four of the last five years but has yet to make his MLB debut. Boyle allowed one run over 3.1 innings with four strikeouts this spring.Evan Fitterer (RHP, 25): A former fifth-round pick in 2019, Fitterer joined the Padres on a minor league deal this offseason after seven years in the Miami Marlins organization. He spent the entire 2025 season in Double-A and did not pitch for the Padres this spring.Francis Peña (RHP, 25): With the Padres since 2022, Peña was ranked as the team’s No. 20 prospect in 2025 by MLB Pipeline. He recorded a 4.99 ERA across 43 Triple-A appearances last year and allowed three runs over 2.2 innings this spring.Ethan Routzahn (RHP, 27): Routzahn has been with the Padres since 2021, making 22 appearances in Triple-A last year with a 3.75 ERA. He pitched three innings this spring, allowing one earned run.Marcos Castanon (INF, 26): A 12th-round pick by the Padres in 2021, Castanon finished last year in Triple-A and was ranked as the team’s No. 22 prospect in 2024 by MLB Pipeline. He went 2-for-10 with one RBI this spring.Romeo Sanabria (INF, 23): An 18th-round pick in 2022, Sanabria spent the 2025 season in Double-A, hitting .257 with a .685 OPS. This spring, he showed promise with a .308 average (4-for-13), one home run, six RBIs, and a 1.000 OPS. He is currently ranked as the Padres’ No. 28 prospect by MLB Pipeline.Clay Dungan (INF/OF, 29): Selected by the Padres in the minor league phase of the 2023 Rule 5 draft from the Kansas City Royals, Dungan spent 2025 in Triple-A, hitting .273 with 14 home runs, 80 RBIs, and an .816 OPS. He went 3-for-16 (.188) this spring.Brendan Durfee (C, 24): Drafted by the Padres in the 14th round of the 2024 draft, Durfee spent 2025 in High-A. He joined Major League camp for catching depth following an injury to Blake Hunt but did not appear in a Cactus League game.
The Padres will continue to evaluate their roster as spring training progresses, aiming to build a competitive team for the upcoming Major League Baseball season.