The youngest player in the Midwest League, an 18-year-old Leo De Vries was bound to experience growing pains as he waded through second year in pro ball.
Maybe he’s coming out of a downturn.
The switch-hitting shortstop on Tuesday homered for the first time in 28 games in high Single-A Fort Wayne’s 11-9 loss to visiting South Bend.
De Vries also singled, drove in three runs, walked and scored twice in lifting his batting line to .261/.354/.439. He also committed his 13th error.
De Vries had a .290/.359/.609 batting line when he hit his fourth homer of the season on April 29. He was named the Midwest League’s player of the month shortly after, but went on to hit .231/.333/.296 with 28 strikeouts over his next 28 games.
Frist baseman Jack Costello (.656 OPS) also hit his fifth homer during a three-hit game, while second baseman Brandon Butterworth (.730 OPS) doubled twice and drove in a run.
Right-hander Ian Koenig (6.08 ERA) allowed six runs — three earned — in 4 ⅓ innings in the start.
Left-hander Harry Gustin (1.93 ERA) struck out two over two scoreless innings in relief.
Fort Wayne is 29-29.
Notable
• RHP Bradgley Rodriguez exited his second appearance with Triple-A El Paso on Sunday with discomfort in his biceps. The Padres’ medical staff, however, is cautiously optimistic that he could be considered for a return to game action in a few days.
• OF Joshua Mears has retired after hitting .167/.256/.306 in 47 games to start his third tour with Double-A San Antonio. A second-round pick in 2019, Mears possessed the system’s best raw power and hit as many as 22 homers across three levels in 2022 (.791 OPS), but he struck out in 40.6% of his 332 Double-A plate appearances in his career (.169/.253/.365).
• The organization made a number of other moves Tuesday, pushing LHP Luis Gutierrez (2.88 ERA) to high Single-A Fort Wayne, RHP Tyson Neighbors (1.19 ERA) to Double-A San Antonio and RHPs Carter Loewen (2.38 ERA), Jose Espada (2.42 ERA) and Eduarniel Nuñez (3.57 ERA) to Triple-A El Paso.
Tuesday’s scoreboard
TRIPLE-A EL PASO (30-34)
Chihuahuas 9, Round Rock 4: RHP Matt Waldron (2-1, 4.50 ERA) allowed two runs in five innings in the win, striking out four and scattering four hits and three walks. RHP Bryan Hoeing allowed a run on two hits and a walk in one-third of an inning in continuing rehab work. RF Yonathan Perlaza (.819 OPS) went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored. LF Bryce Johnson (.870 OPS), 1B Trenton Brooks (1.026 OPS) and 2B Nate Mondou (.739 OPS) all had two hits, with Mondou tripling and doubling.
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (31-27)
Amarillo 3, Missions 1: LHP Jagger Haynes (3.83 ERA) walked four but did not allow over five innings in the start. RHP Spencer Jones (2-2, 2.31 ERA) allowed two runs in an inning of work and RHP Manuel Castro (4.98 ERA) allowed one run in one inning. SS Francisco Acuña (.790 OPS) went 4-for-4 with a walk and a run scored. 1B Romeo Sanabria (.819 OPS) went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts.
LOW SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (27-31)
Visalia 8, Storm 4: RHP Will Varmette (3-3, 6.32 ERA) allowed six runs on eight hits and a walk in 1⅓ innings in the start. LF Kaden Hollow (.749 OPS) doubled twice and drove in two runs. 2B B.Y. Choi (.616 OPS) went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored.
ROOKIE DSL BROWN (3-3)
Athletics 6, Padres 0 (7): LHP Marco Eluscat (0-1, 6.75 ERA) allowed five runs in four innings in the loss. A double from RF Cristian Benavides (.523 OPS) was the Padres’ only extra-base hit.
ROOKIE DSL GOLD (3-4)
Padres 14, Guardians 8: C Isaac Ponce (.875 OPS) drove in three runs on two hits, including a double. 2B Jose Verdugo (1.149 OPS) drove in two runs on two hits, including a double. CF Moises Valdez (.872 OPS) went 3-for-4 with an RBI, a walk and two runs scored.
