Padres Expand Minor League System with Seven Teams and Emerging Prospects

The Dominican Summer League (DSL) season kicked off on June 2, marking the beginning of a competitive 72-game stretch that will conclude in August. The San Diego Padres have bolstered their minor league presence with the addition of two DSL teams: Padres Gold and Padres Brown, the former aiming to defend its championship title from last season.

With the introduction of the ACL Padres alongside the two DSL teams, the Padres now boast a total of seven minor league affiliates. As the season progresses, prospect evaluations have been updated, highlighting catcher Ethan Salas, who has made a significant leap from No. 27 to No. 11 on the Baseball America prospect list. MLB.com also recognizes Salas as the No. 49 prospect in all of baseball.

On the other hand, left-handed pitcher Kruz Schoolcraft, who began the year in the MLB top 100 prospects, has recently fallen off the list due to a slow start with Lake Elsinore. While his early-season velocity was concerning, recent outings have shown signs of improvement, suggesting a potential rebound in his future value.

Beyond Salas and Schoolcraft, the Padres’ minor league system is still searching for players who can capture national attention. Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller has mentioned that the organization’s prospects may be more highly regarded by other teams than by national evaluators. As the trade deadline approaches on August 3, fans will be watching closely to see how Preller navigates the market, particularly if he believes his team has a shot at the playoffs.

In El Paso, the Chihuahuas faced a tough series against the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, finishing 2-4 after losing two key players, Samad Taylor and Jase Bowen, to promotions. Outfielder Nick Solak has stepped up in their absence, leading the team with 13 hits in the series, which included two doubles and two home runs. At 31 years old, Solak is showcasing his major league experience with a .344/.421/.536 batting line, while outfielder Nick Schnell continues to lead the team with 10 home runs and has racked up 39 RBIs.

On the mound, right-handed pitcher Germán Márquez has begun his rehab assignment impressively, allowing no runs and just two hits over 6.1 innings across two starts. Evan Fitterer remains the most consistent starter for El Paso, holding a 3.80 ERA over 45 innings pitched. Meanwhile, JP Sears leads the team in strikeouts despite struggling with a 7.62 ERA.

The Missions had a successful series against the Wichita Wind Surge, winning 5-1, aided by the resurgence of outfielder Braedon Karpathios. After a rocky start to the season, Karpathios delivered a strong performance, going 9-for-19 with nine walks during the six-game series. Meanwhile, Ethan Salas, despite a brief cooling-off period after celebrating his 20th birthday on June 1, remains a critical player, having stolen his 12th base of the season.

Infielder Carson Tucker leads the Missions with a .299 batting average, while Karpathios boasts the best on-base percentage at .373. The Missions bullpen has been a standout, with Francis Peña posting a 1.93 ERA over 23.1 innings and Andrew Moore maintaining a 2.29 ERA in 19.2 innings.

In Fort Wayne, the TinCaps struggled in their series against the Lake County Captains, finishing 1-5. The pitching struggled with command, particularly LHP Kash Mayfield, who allowed three home runs in what was considered his worst outing of the year. RHP Carson Montgomery also faced challenges, walking five batters while managing to strike out six.

Despite the struggles, outfielder Jake Cunningham continues to shine, hitting .295/.383/.628 with 10 doubles and 14 home runs. However, he leads the team in strikeouts, suggesting an area for improvement in his approach at the plate. Outfielder Alex McCoy is currently in a slump, needing to adjust to the league’s pitching trends to regain his early-season success.

The Storm maintained their top position in the Cal League by splitting their series against the Fresno Grizzlies at 3-3. Kruz Schoolcraft earned his first professional win, pitching five innings with just one run allowed. RHP Jesus Castro has also been impressive, posting a 3.05 ERA while emerging as a key starter.

Notable players in the rookie league include infielder/DH Santiago Vargas, who has made an immediate impact with a .315/.367/.556 line, and 3B Dawson Willis, who is also off to a strong start with a .317 batting average. Lefty reliever Zack Qin is back from the injured list, boasting a 1.15 ERA in 15.2 innings, while RHP Lang-Hong Su has been stellar with a 0.90 ERA over three starts.

Both DSL teams are in their early stages, with the Brown Padres struggling at 1-5. RHP Yoel Duarte, a top international prospect, has yet to pitch. On the Gold team, several top-rated international players are making their mark, including shortstop Joniel Hernandez, who is hitting .350 with a .931 OPS.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.