San Diego Padres starting pitchers Matt Waldron and Ryan Bergert are both built up enough to assist the major league team in June. Bergert pitched May 28 for El Paso and reached 65 pitches in his outing with nine strikeouts. Waldron had his fourth rehab start May 30 with El Paso and reached 75 pitches, using his knuckleball 60% of the time (perMadFriars.com).

Reliever Bryan Hoeing has still not built up to more than one inning pitched and is not yet available as a long reliever. The other pitcher on rehab, Luis Patiño, was advanced to Double-A from Low-A to continue his work.

Reliever Bradgley Rodriguez got his long anticipated call up to the majors. His high 90’s fastball, changeup and slider led to his claiming one of the Padres roster spots.

Lake Elsinore starter Kash Mayfield experienced some shoulder soreness and has now been cleared to pitch. He will throw a bullpen and a side session, then have game action next week.

El Paso Chihuahuas (28-27 record, 3rd in PCL East Division)

The Chihuahuas had a winning week, going 4-2 and had both Ryan Bergert and Matt Waldron pitching in their rotation. Reliever Francis Peña has struggled in May, with 12 earned runs in 10.1 innings pitched.

Starter Jackson Wolf had another effective start going five innings and allowing one run with two hits and nine strikeouts. Reliever/closer Reiss Knehr has eight saves and a 2.70 ERA over 16.2 IP.

Catcher Cody Roberts was promoted to El Paso to replace Luis Campusano when he was brought up to the Padres. In 7 games and 21 at-bats, he has a .333/.364/.476 line with a .840 OPS. Roberts is a 28-year-old who signed as a free agent career minor league catcher. Outfielder Tirso Ornelas did not have a good first month but has heated up in May and is currently hitting .311 with a .840 OPS with 26 RBI.

San Antonio Missions (27-22 record, 3rd in the Texas League, South Division)

The Missions went 5-1 this past week to improve their overall record.

Starter Luis Patiño had his first start with the Missions, completing four innings with no runs allowed and four strikeouts. RHP Henry Baez continues to impress with a 2.45 ERA in 47.2 IP with 47 K’s to 16 BB. LHP Jagger Haynes has improved through his recent starts and completed 6 IP this past week with one hit and one run while striking out six. In 45.1 IP his ERA is 4.37.

RHP Braden Nett only pitched 65 innings last season and is having his workload managed so his starts and innings pitched are being managed conservatively.

Catcher Addison Kopack was promoted to the Missions roster as the catching group was adjusted when Campusano was promoted. First baseman Romeo Sanabria is the picture of consistency with the Missions and he is hitting .333/.381/.503 with a .885 OPS. A promotion to Triple-A would not be a surprise.

Catcher Brandon Valenzuela continues to lead with seven home runs and is hitting .278/.363/.470 with a .833 OPS. He has really stepped up since the injury to top prospect Ethan Salas. With Salas not expected to return until July, Valenzuela has more time to impress.

Fort Wayne TinCaps (24-25 record, 5th in Midwest League, East Division)

The TinCaps played a double-header along with their regular schedule and finished the week with a 4-3 record.

Starter Clark Candiotti (#26 MLB prospect) has shaken off the rough start to his season and has brought his ERA down to 4.97 with 38 strikeouts to 17 walks in 25.1 innings pitched. RHP Eric Yost continues to dominate with 6.1 IP and only allowed one run in his last start. He is carrying a 1.76 ERA in 41 IP with 42 K and 15 BB. The 22-year-old right hander is not listed on the MLB prospect lists but seems to be trying to push his way into consideration.

Right-handed starter Miguel Mendez has four starts and a 3.38 ERA since his promotion over 16 IP with 22 K and 7 BB. Reliever Tyson Neighbors (#15 MLB) has 19 IP with a 1.42 ERA and four saves. He has struck out 35 to 6 BB. He is the most highly ranked reliever on the prospect list now that Bradgley Rodriguez was promoted to the Padres. A promotion to San Antonio could be coming.

Shortstop Leo De Vries has cooled down through the month of May. His torrid April pace couldn’t have been maintained but his May has been a big drop off. He is hitting .225/.300/.282 over the past month with a .582 OPS. Hopefully the real player is somewhere in the middle of the two extremes. Overall, he sits with a .268 average and a .801 OPS.

Centerfielder Nerwilian Cedeno is hitting .273, tops on the team, but with a .660 OPS with six doubles and 18 RBI. Third baseman Rosman Verdugo leads with 8 homers and 26 RBI and a .468 slug. 2B/SS Brandon Butterworth has a well-rounded skill set. He is hitting .270/.355/.426 with a .781 OPS. He has stolen seven bases and has 19 RBI.

Outfielder Kai Roberts has played in eight games since moving up to Fort Wayne and struggled with 11 K in 26 AB with 5 hits.

Lake Elsinore Storm (22-27 record, tied for 2nd in California League, South Division)

Left-handed starter Luis Gutierrez has four starts for the Storm and 37 IP with a 3.41 ERA and 35 K and 18 BB. Left-handed starter Boston Bateman has a 3.57 ERA for May with 17 K in 17.1 IP. He is overall at 35.1 IP with a 4.08 ERA. Reliever Igor Gil has a 2.77 ERA in 13 IP over 7 appearances.

Reliever Adam Conrad has thrown 21.1 innings over 10 games and has not allowed an earned run. He has 24 K and 15 BB (10K/9IP).

Catcher Carlos Rodriguez was promoted to the Storm from the ACL Padres and in his first game he went 2-for-3 with an RBI. 3B Zach Evans still leads the team with a .315 average and has a .786 OPS. SS Ryan Jackson has a .308 average and .926 OPS. Jackson leads the team with 12 doubles and Evans has 33 RBI. Center fielder Kasen Wells continues to wrack up the stolen bases with 23 and has a .388 OBP and a .283 average.

Two-way player Sean Barnett has still only been the DH and carries a .907 OPS and has thrown bullpens on the side. June is the target date for throwing to hitters (per MadFriars.com)

ACL Padres (5-16 record, last in the ACL, West Division)

Since the promotion of Victor Figueroa there has been very little offense for the rookie league Padres and they have gone 1-4 the past week.

Right-hander Humberto Cruz has a 3.00 ERA in 4 games and 6 IP with 6 K and 3 BB. Starter Cole Paplham has begun pitching after the injury he suffered in spring training (facial fractures after being hit by a batted ball). He has 3 starts and 4.2 IP with a 1.93 ERA.

#8 MLB prospect Kale Fountain is limited to DH duty with a hamstring injury he is recovering from. He has been in 9 games and 29 AB with a .276/.371/.345 line and .716 OPS.