The San Diego Padres promoted their top prospect, catcher Ethan Salas, to Triple-A El Paso on July 29. He has had 43 plate appearances over nine games since joining the Chihuahuas. The Pacific Coast League is notorious for inflated offense and is a challenge for pitchers trying to maintain a reasonable ERA. The air is dry and hot, and there is frequently elevation to deal with.
Salas had been on a plateau in Double-A, especially with extra-base hits over his past several weeks with San Antonio.
The
move to El Paso could be viewed as an opportunity to boost his confidence while providing him an opportunity to hone his swing for more power.
It seems to have worked with Salas hitting .333/.419/.667 in his first two series with his new team. He has four doubles, a triple, two home runs, and 12 RBI.
His catching skills have always been viewed as advanced for his years, and he has only 53 innings of catching El Paso’s pitchers to this point. He has two passed balls, one throwing error, and has a 20% caught stealing rate for his early return.
It can be debated whether it would be a wise move to bring Salas up in September when MLB teams can expand their rosters to 28 players. It might be better to add pitching for the Friars and leave Salas at Triple-A to finish the season. With a pending labor dispute at the MLB level, promoting Salas to the major league roster would put his further development at risk should a lockout occur later this year. He would be unable to work with the minor league players if unrest should linger into the 2027 season.
The Padres have a decision to make, but the promotion of their prized prospect is something that many fans are hoping they will move on.
Multiple roster moves
The Padres brass had decisions to make and made minor-league accommodations to add some of their most recent signings. The players signed after the draft have been in Arizona being evaluated, and a few were added to Single-A Lake Elsinore’s roster this past week.
Many more remain in Arizona playing in the games going on in the bridge league. Bridge league games are played on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday (info per Jerry Espinoza on X). The league allows rehabbing and players in development to work on skills and be evaluated after the ACL concludes.
Padres utility player Samad Taylor is rehabbing with the bridge league before a formal rehab assignment.
To work the new Padres into the system, the organization made multiple cuts and adjustments to their minor league rosters.
With only 165 players allowed in the minor league system, many roster moves are needed to fold the new talent into competition.
El Paso Chihuahuas (47-66 record, last in PCL East)
The Chihuahuas played in Reno this past week. The 4,500 feet of elevation helps the batted ball to fly but also decreases movement on thrown pitches. Padres rehabbing starter Joe Musgrove moved his rehab to the Chihuahuas on Sunday, throwing 3.1 innings of one-run ball on 6 hits and 2 strikeouts with no walks. His fastball hung between 94-96 mph, and he threw all his pitches. Musgrove relied heavily on his sinker and his fastball but also mixed in a curve, a sweeper, a cutter, and a slider. He had 42 strikes in his 53 pitches and left the game after hitting his pitch count.
Padres reliever, David Morgan, continued his rehab with El Paso this past week. Throwing twice during the week for 3.1 innings with three walks and an earned run. His velocity is back to 96-98 mph on his sinker, but he has no strikeouts with the walks.
The Padres signed minor league free agent pitchers JP France and Hans Crouse, adding them to the El Paso roster.
First baseman Romeo Sanabria, who was promoted in July, appeared in 21 games and was hitting .200 with a .575 OPS. Sanabria was sent back to San Antonio on Aug. 7.
With catcher Rudolfo Durán rejoining El Paso, catcher Anthony Vilar was sent to San Antonio. Outfielder Dustin Harris and RHP Michael Flynn were released, but Harris was resigned three days later. Infielder Nate Mondou was released.
RHSP Andrew Thurman was promoted from San Antonio to El Paso. RHP Andrew Moore was traded, and RHP Hunter Stratton was acquired.
LHP Jackson Wolf left the system via trade.
RHP Eli Villalobos, RHP Ryan Och and outfielder Kavares Tears transferred to the 60-day injured list.
San Antonio Missions (49-59 record, last in Texas League South)
Undrafted free agent outfielder Jake Cunningham, who signed with the Padres on a minor league deal this past offseason, has thrived with the Padres after being released by the Orioles. He leads the team with a .294 average and .819 OPS. Over his 95 games between Fort Wayne and San Antonio, Cunningham has 19 home runs and 60 RBI, the most HR’s in the Padres minor league system.
Corner IF/OF Jack Costello and catcher Oswaldo Linares were promoted to San Antonio from Fort Wayne.
Outfielder Kai Murphy (son of MLB manager Pat Murphy) was moved to the development list.
Catchers Chris Sargent, Colton Vincent and RHP Andrew Dalquist were released.
LHSP Luis Gutierrez, who currently sits as the No. 14 prospect in the system, continues his rehab with San Antonio.
Fort Wayne TinCaps (46-60 record, last in Midwest League East)
LHP Kash Mayfield and RHP Miguel Mendez were traded off the roster. RHP Isaiah Lowe, RHP Sean Barnett and RHP Jeferson Villabona were promoted from Lake Elsinore.
RHP Clark Candiotti, RHP Luis German and infielder Zach Evans were released.
Infielder Bradley Frye, C/1B Yoiber Ocopio and outfielder Connor Westenberg were promoted from Lake Elsinore.
The Fort Wayne offense is still struggling, losing 5 of 6 games this past week. Outfielder Ryan Wideman leads the team with a .284 average but still has a .304 slugging percentage.
The best overall player is first baseman Luke Cantwell with a .271 average and .906 OPS.
RHP Carson Montgomery is the leading starter after all the changes but has a 4.46 ERA in 74.2 innings pitched. RHP Abraham Parra has the most strikeouts with 73 in 77.1 innings with a 6.17 ERA.
Reliever Tucker Musgrove, who has 40 strikeouts in 19 innings pitched, has taken advantage of a new opportunity and has two saves with a 3.79 ERA.
Lake Elsinore Storm (58-50 record, first in Cal League South)
With a 4-2 record in the series against the former first-place Ontario Tower Buzzers, the Storm resumed the lead in their division. After winning the first half championship, Lake Elsinore is trying to wrap up second half honors as well. Their regular season ends on Sept. 6.
RHP Michael Salina, who had Tommy John surgery before being drafted by the Padres in the 4th round of the 2025 draft, finally began his rehab and was removed after one inning due to injury. He allowed a hit and had a strikeout before leaving the game.
LHP Ryan Reed, another 2025 draftee coming off injury, and LHP Joseph Herrera both arrived from the Arizona development list. Catchers Jake Bold and Augie Lopez (10th round draft pick) were added to the Lake Elsinore roster.
Outfielder Alex Conover (supplemental round four, 2026 draft) and third baseman Nu’u Contrades (6th round, 2026 draft) were both added to the Lake Elsinore roster.
Outfielder Jesmaylin Arias, who played 47 games in the ACL this year, was added to the Storm roster.
Infielder Dawson Willis was reinstated off the injured list.
Outfielder George Bilecki (12th round, 2025 draft), relievers Vicarte Domingo, Cal Riehl, and Carson Swilling were released.
LHP Kruz Schoolcraft was skipped over for his start this past week and the Storm used a bullpen game instead with LHP Adler Cecil making the start and LHP Ryan Reed making his debut.
DSL Padres Brown (9-38 record, last in West Division)
IF/OF Gabriel Teran has played in 21 games with a .377 average and 1.109 OPS. He leads the team with three home runs. Third baseman and DH Osmy Osorio has 21 RBI while hitting .206, while C/IF/OF Sebastian Maldonado has 22 RBI while hitting .196.
DSL Padres Gold (35-14 record, first in Northwest Division)
Infielder Sebastian Nadales is hitting .442 with a 1.281 OPS in 13 games. OF/IF Endy Rios is hitting .404 with a 1.075 OPS in 15 games. C/IF/OF Dayquer Alfonzo it hitting .338 with a 1.025 OPS with four home runs and 47 RBI, tops on the team.
LHSP Carlos Alvarez has 10 starts and 39.1 innings pitched with a 3.66 ERA while LHSP Yunny Tovar has eight games started and 35 innings pitched with a 3.34 ERA.
