The El Paso Chihuahuas ended their season with two games on Sept. 20 and 21, winning one and losing the last game of the year. They finished the season with an 81-68 record, the only Padres affiliate with a winning record.
LHP Luis Gutierrez was promoted to El Paso after completing the season with San Antonio. He made one start, the last game of the year, and pitched five innings with six hits and three earned runs on 77 pitches. RHP Matt Waldron and LHP Jackson Wolf fronted the rotation for El Paso. Waldron finished with a 6.67 ERA in 18 games started and 82.1 innings pitched. His use of his knuckleball fluctuated through the season, which is not a surprise as its effectiveness would be affected by the dry and high-altitude conditions in the league.
Wolf finished with a 5.47 ERA, under the league average of 5.85, but Wolf has limited projection in the major leagues due to his fastball rarely reaching or exceeding 90 mph. He excels with location and mix of his six pitches. If looked at as a major league candidate, he would be limited to a fifth starter role. He is listed as the Padres #49 prospect. He is Rule Five eligible this offseason but is unlikely to be claimed.
RHP Victor Lizarraga played most of the season with San Antonio, but started two games for El Paso after Double-A completed its season. He pitched 10 innings with a 1.80 ERA, laying the groundwork for advancing to Triple-A or a tryout with the Padres.
Gutierrez pitched across four teams during the 2025 season. He started the year with Lake Elsinore and pitched six games with a 2.88 ERA. He was moved up to Fort Wayne for 13 starts and 65 innings pitched with a 3.74 ERA. He then pitched one game for San Antonio before the season ended, then finished with his two starts at Triple-A. He most likely will start the season in Double-A next season. He is Rule Five eligible and will need to be added to the roster to avoid the draft.
3B Marcos Castañon is also Rule Five eligible and will have to be added to the roster to avoid the draft. Catcher Rodolfo Duran is a free agent and could leave the organization.
Outfielder Tirso Ornelas had a strong finish to the season after returning from the IL. He should receive a spring invite for 2026. C/DH Luis Campusano led the Padres system in average (.336), OBP (1.036) and SLG (.595) for the year. He had 25 HR and 95 RBI with 82 K/72 BB. His ineffectiveness at the major league level this season has to be a major frustration for the Padres front office. El Paso outfielder Yonathon Perlaza led the system with 113 RBI.
Arizona leagues have begun
The Arizona Instructional League is ongoing in Arizona with the Padres having about 50 players working in drills in the mornings and games in the afternoon. Padres Hall of Famer Jake Peavy was on the radio with 97.3 FM morning show hosts Ben and Woods discussing his role as an instructor with the young players. Peavy joined former Padres Wil Myers, Trevor Hoffman and Mark Loretta at the Peoria Sports Complex, coaching and mentoring the new Padres to prepare for their pro careers. Several, including LHP Kruz Schoolcraft and catcher Truitt Madonna, were mentioned as participating.
The instructional league does not release rosters or results. It is purely an evaluation and instruction camp put on by the teams on an individual basis. Some participants are preparing for their competition in the Fall League, others are the new players signed into the system and a few are learning new positions or rehabbing from injury.
It is not open to the public and the structure is open and flexible to allow for intense coaching, evaluation and development.
The Arizona Fall League is a more structured and official development league. The Padres have announced the players that will be joining the Peoria Javelinas for competition. There are six teams with players from five organizations on each team. The Padres players are placed on the Javelinas and the Peoria Sports Complex is their home field.
The Padres have eight players named to the Javelinas roster. Catcher Ethan Salas has been cleared for baseball activity and is likely at instructional league in order to get ready for the start of the AFL. Other players joining him are IF Ryan Jackson, OF Braedon Karpathios, RHP Isaiah Lowe, RHP Maikel Miralles, RHP Johan Moreno, RHP Carson Montgomery and RHP Tucker Musgrove.
The league begins play on Oct. 6 with the Javelinas kicking off the season against the Scottsdale Scorpions. All the other teams will begin the next day. We will have weekly coverage as their schedule progresses. The season ends on Nov. 12 with the playoffs to follow.
