The San Diego Padres A-level affiliates both completed their 2025 season last week. The Fort Wayne TinCaps and Lake Elsinore Storm finished the year with losing records. Lake Elsinore went 56-76 and was last in the Southern Division of the California League. The Fort Wayne TinCaps finished 56-75 and were fifth in the Midwest League, Eastern Division.
Lake Elsinore Storm
Lake Elsinore had multiple members of the 2025 draft class, as well as a few of the free agent signees, end the season on the roster
after the evaluation period in Arizona. Catcher Truitt Madonna, catcher Ty Harvey, outfielder Ryan Wideman, outfielder Cardell Thibodeaux, infielder Dylan Gregg, infielder Bradley Frye and infielder Justin DeCriscio made their professional debuts over the past few weeks.
Of the new Padres, infielder Dylan Gregg played in 32 games with a .246 average and .695 OPS. He had four doubles, three home runs and 13 RBI. Outfielder Ryan Wideman played in 26 games with a .229 average and .601 OPS with two doubles and 12 RBI. All of the other new players hit under .200.
First round draft pick, LHP Kruz Schoolcraft, made his professional debut with a 1.2 inning start and allowed two runs with four strikeouts. Other pitchers who made their pro debuts were Jaxon Dalena, Landry Jurecka, Will Koger, Cameron Nohos, Clay Edmondson and Bodi Rascon.
Dalena made two starts, pitched five innings and had a 1.80 ERA. Cameron Nohos started one game, pitched four innings and had a 6.75 ERA. Clay Edmondson pitched in relief for 11.1 innings with a 4.76 ERA.
Outfielder Alex McCoy played in 53 games with Lake Elsinore with a long IL stint in the middle of the season. During his rehab from his injury, he made some changes to his swing and was a hitting machine when he returned. He finished the season with a .318 average and .907 OPS with 22 extra base hits and 33 RBI.
LHP Kash Mayfield had a sore shoulder early in the Storm’s season and was limited after that. He pitched 60.2 innings with a 2.97 ERA and 88 strikeouts to 28 walks.
Fort Wayne TinCaps
The Fort Wayne TinCaps hosted the debut for 1B/OF Luke Cantwell, drafted in the 20th round of this year’s draft. In his five games and 22 plate appearances, he hit .250 with a home run and an RBI. SS Jonathon Vastin was drafted in the 19th round and hit .235 with two doubles, a homer and seven RBI.
Isaiah Lowe, the No. 26 prospect, had a rough season with fluctuating consistency. He finished with 91.2 innings and a 5.69 ERA with 70 strikeouts and 51 walks. LHP Luis Gutierrez started 13 games and 65 innings with a 3.74 ERA. He struck out 59 to 22 walks and got the late-season promotion to San Antonio.
San Antonio Missions
San Antonio has a 65-70 record, third in South Division of the Texas League. They finished their season Sunday. First baseman Romeo Sanabria started the season on fire, but cooled through the summer. He is finishing strong and currently leads the team in home runs with 12 and RBI with 56.
Catcher Ethan Salas has missed most of the season with his low back injury, but should see action in the Fall League or in Winter Ball, depending on his recovery from his injury.
LHP Victor Lizarraga started 23 games and threw 91.1 innings with a 6.21 ERA. He had 87 strikeouts and 54 walks, but improved in the second half and was promoted to El Paso for the last couple weeks of the season. LHP Jagger Haynes battled with command and consistency and pitched in 25 games, 24 starts, with 99 innings pitched. He had a 4.27 ERA with 98 strikeouts and 60 walks.
Relievers Harry Gustin and Garrett Hawkins were both promoted from Fort Wayne in the second half of the season. Gustin has pitched in seven games and was used as an opener in one game. He has 11.1 innings pitched with no runs allowed. Hawkins has 16 innings pitched in 13 games with three runs allowed and a 1.69 ERA. Both could receive non-roster invites for next Spring.
El Paso Chihuahuas
The El Paso Chihuahuas play until Sept. 21 and currently have a 75-66 record, which is good for second in the East Division of the Pacific Coast League. Outfielder Tirso Ornelas is working back from his long IL. He is still under team control and could still be an option for a Spring invite next year.
When San Antonio received three players from Fort Wayne at the close of the A-level season, the Chihuahuas received RHP Victor Lizarraga, infielder Francisco Acuña and RHP Johan Moreno from the Missions.
1B/C Luis Campusano had a master year for El Paso, leading the team with 25 HR and second in RBI with 91. He has not been able to translate that to the major league level this season and this offseason might see a change for him. Outfielder Yonathon Perlaza has 19 HR and 107 RBI, but he was also unable to translate his skills into a major league roster spot during his Spring tryout with the major league team.
Infielder Marco Castañon was drafted in the 12th round of the 2021 draft. He started his pro career quickly and flashed power throughout his first two seasons, but has spent the past two seasons with San Antonio until being promoted at the beginning of September. He hit .269 with .757 OPS this season and has feasted on PCL conditions since his promotion. He has played in nine games and is hitting .394 with a 1.231 OPS.
LHP Jackson Wolf, who profiles as a fourth or fifth starter, started 20 games with El Paso with a 5.63 ERA. The average ERA in the PCL is 5.85 as it is a hitter-friendly environment that inflates hitter’s and pitcher’s numbers. LHP Omar Cruz has started and relieved this season. He has pitched in 29 games with 11 starts. His 4.97 ERA in 79.2 IP is the best for any of the Triple-A starters.
Fall League begins
Arizona Fall League practice begins this month with the start of the season Oct. 6. The Padres players will play with the Peoria Javelinas. Ethan Salas is on the roster. There will be a full preview soon.
