All Minor League Teams in Action This Week

Padres' prospects take the field across the minors as the season gets underway

Apr. 2, 2026 at 1:48am

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The San Diego Padres' minor league affiliates are all in action this week, with the El Paso Chihuahuas, San Antonio Missions, Fort Wayne TinCaps, and Lake Elsinore Storm all kicking off their seasons. The teams feature a mix of top prospects and rehabbing major leaguers, as the Padres look to develop their next wave of talent.

Why it matters

The Padres' minor league system is considered one of the best in baseball, with several highly-touted prospects spread across the four affiliates. How these players perform in the early going could provide clues about the future of the major league roster and the team's long-term outlook.

The details

The Chihuahuas' rotation includes rehabbing starter Matt Waldron, who has seen an uptick in velocity this season, as well as top prospects Triston McKenzie, Marco Gonzalez, and J.P. Sears. Utility player Sung-Mun Song has also made an early impact for El Paso. The Missions will feature top pitching prospect Miguel Mendez, along with several other intriguing arms. Fort Wayne's rotation is led by Kash Mayfield, while Lake Elsinore will be anchored by Kruz Schoolcraft.

  • The Chihuahuas started their season the day after the Padres and have played four games so far.
  • The Missions begin their season on Thursday against the Tulsa Drillers.
  • Fort Wayne opens its season on Friday against the Great Lakes Loons.
  • Lake Elsinore starts play on Thursday, facing the Ontario TowerBuzzers.

The players

Matt Waldron

A rehabbing pitcher for the El Paso Chihuahuas, Waldron has seen an increase in velocity this season, with his fastball averaging 93 mph and his sinker reaching 92 mph.

Triston McKenzie

A right-handed pitcher in the Chihuahuas' rotation, McKenzie has made one start so far this season.

Marco Gonzalez

A left-handed pitcher in the Chihuahuas' rotation, Gonzalez made one start to begin the season.

J.P. Sears

A left-handed pitcher in the Chihuahuas' rotation, Sears made one start to begin the season.

Sung-Mun Song

A utility player for the El Paso Chihuahuas who has made three starts so far, playing second base and shortstop.

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What they’re saying

“His fastball has greater velocity this season, averaging 93 mph and his sinker is up to 92 mph. He is using a five-pitch mix, relying more heavily on his sinker than his four-seamer and using his knuckleball 27% of the time in his first start.”

— Matt Waldron, Rehabbing Pitcher, El Paso Chihuahuas

What’s next

The Padres will need to decide if Waldron will be promoted to the major league club, as he is out of options and can't be kept in El Paso.

The takeaway

The Padres' deep minor league system is on full display this week, with top prospects and rehabbing major leaguers across all four affiliates. How these players perform in the early going could provide valuable insight into the future of the Padres' roster and organizational depth.