Two big-leaguers took significant steps toward returns on Saturday.
Jackson Merrill went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in his first rehab game with Double-A San Antonio, while Jake Cronenworth went 1-for-3 in a rehab game in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League Padres’ opener.
Merrill played seven innings in center field before he replaced by Wyatt Hoffman. Merrill could return from his hamstring strain as soon as Monday in New York against the Yankees.
Cronenworth also played seven innings, at second base, in his first rehab game. He is aiming to return from his nondisplaced fractured rib on Friday in Denver against the Rockies.
AROUND THE FARM
El Paso (AAA): OF Yonathan Peralta’s 39 hits through Friday were tied for fourth in minor league baseball. The switch-hitter has a .355/.405/.564 batting line in 27 games.
San Antonio (AA): LHP Jackson Wolf is thriving in his second stint in the organization. He had a 6.66 ERA in 102 2/3 innings across stints with El Paso and San Antonio last year, but he’s struck out 31 in 25 innings (3.24 ERA) to start 2025 in the Texas League. Wolf, 26, was included in the August 2023 trade that fetched LHP Rich Hill and 1B Ji Man Choi from the Pirates. The Padres reacquired Wolf before the 2024 season for minor league INF Kervin Pichardo.
Fort Wayne (A+): 3B Rosman Verdugo, 20, hit a career-high 10 homers in 106 games last year and is already at six through 23 games in the Midwest League. Verdugo is hitting .247/.333/.565 with 10 walks and 32 strikeouts.
Lake Elsinore (A): OF Kasen Wells is tied for third in the minors with 20 stolen bases in 21 attempts. The 21-year-old is hitting .305/.416/.421 with one homer, seven RBIs and 14 walks against 21 strikeouts in 24 games to start his career. Wells was selected in the 16th round last year out of Weatherford Junior College in Texas. He did not play after the draft.
ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERS
(Through Friday; Minimum 52 plate appearances or 20 innings)
- AVG: .356 – OF Bryce Johnson (AAA)
- OBP: .500 – SS Ryan Jackson (A)
- SLG: .603 – SS Leo De Vries (A+)
- HRs: 6 – C Luis Campusano (AAA), 3B Rosman Verdugo (A+)
- RBIs: 27 – 1B Trenton Brooks (AAA), OF Yonathan Perlaza (AAA)
- SBs: 20 – OF Kasen Wells (A)
- Wins: 4 – RHP Garrett Hawkins (A+)
- ERA: 1.40 – RHP Enmanuel Pinales (A+)
- Ks: 31 – LHP Jackson Wolf (AA)
- WHIP: 0.80 – Wolf
- K/BB: 10.3 – Wolf
- Saves: 5 – RHP Reiss Knehr (AAA)
Saturday’s scoreboard
TRIPLE-A EL PASO (14-18)
Chihuahuas 4, Oklahoma City 2: LHP Kyle Hart (1.93 ERA) walked five and allowed two runs — one earned — on three hits in 4⅔ innings. He struck out four. RHP Raul Brito (2-2, 7.07 ERA) recorded four outs without giving up a run, RHP Ron Marinaccio (4.15 ERA) struck out two over two scoreless innings and RHP Reiss Knehr (3.60 ERA) saved his fifth game with a scoreless ninth. 3B Mike Brosseau (.716 OPS) hit his third homer. RF Tim Locastro (1.038 OPS), DH Yonathan Perlaza (.954 OPS) and C Cody Roberts (.788 OPS) all had doubles.
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (13-13)
Missions 4, Corpus Christi 1: RF Joshua Mears (.586 OPS) hit his third homer. 3B Devin Ortiz (.803 OPS) went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored and C Anthony Vilar (.735 OPS) went 2-for-4 with a stolen base. LHP Jagger Haynes (4.74 ERA) struck out nine and allowed on run on two hits and a walk in 4 ⅔ innings in the start. RHP Stephen Jones (1-0, 1.69 ERA) struck out two while recording four outs for the win. RHP Manuel Castro (0.77 ERA) saved his second game with a scoreless ninth.
HIGH SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (15-11)
TinCaps 2, Dayton 0: RHP Isaiah Lowe (1-2, 6.59 ERA) struck out five while scattering one hit and three walks over five scoreless innings in the win. LHP Harry Gustin (2.33 ERA) saved his second game with four strikeouts over four no-hit innings. RF Jacob Campbell (.651 OPS) went 2-for-3 with his first homer and two RBIs. 1B Addison Kopack (.572 OPS) hit a triple and SS Brandon Butterworth (.774 OPS) hit a double.
LOW SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (10-16)
Inland Empire 6, Storm 2: RHP Bryan Balzer (0-2, 6.75 ERA) allowed four runs in 4 ⅔ innings in the loss. CF Alex McCoy (.741 OPS) went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. C Lamar King Jr. (.800 OPS) and LF Kaden Hollow (.822 OPS) also both had doubles.
ROOKIE ACL PADRES (0-1)
Rangers 4, Padres 3: RHP Kannon Kemp (6.75 ERA) walked five and allowed three runs on one hit in four innings in his professional debut. SS Yimy Tovar went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Entering the game as a pinch-hitter, Kale Fountain went 1-for-1 with a walk and an RBI in his pro debut.
