The Lake Elsinore Storm are making waves in the Padres' minor league system, becoming the first affiliate to sweep a six-game series this season. The Low-A squad now boasts a winning record and sits tied for first place in their division, fueled by a potent mix of 2025 draftees and undrafted free agents who have emerged as surprise standouts over the past two weeks. This offensive nucleus has caught fire, giving fans plenty of reasons to keep an eye on the Storm.
Meanwhile, the big league club is set to receive a boost as both starter Griffin Canning and reliever Yuki Matsui near the end of their rehab assignments. Canning is fully built up and must be activated by Monday, while Matsui has thrown in back-to-back games and completed a two-inning appearance—he's expected to rejoin the Padres by this weekend. Their return could provide a spark to San Diego's pitching staff.
In Triple-A El Paso, Sung-Mun Song recently served as the 27th man for the Mexico City Series, making his Padres debut as a pinch runner before returning to the Chihuahuas. On the surface, his numbers might suggest he's ready for more, but a deeper dive raises red flags: concerning barrel and hard-hit rates, minimal slugging, zero stolen bases, and an alarming strikeout rate. It's a reminder that not all stat lines tell the full story.
Outfielder Samad Taylor leads the El Paso squad with a .325 average, while infielder Pablo Reyes boasts a .438 on-base percentage. Outfielder Jase Bowen is the team's standout, topping the charts in slugging (.625) and OPS (.968) with seven homers, and infielder Jose Miranda leads with 18 RBIs. The depth of talent in Triple-A is reassuring for the Friars, though Bowen's 29% strikeout rate (28 Ks in 96 at-bats) is a minor concern worth monitoring.
On the mound, right-hander Evan Fitterer has impressed across four starts (six appearances total), posting a 1.23 ERA over 14.2 innings. Reliever Garrett Hawkins, on the 40-man roster, has a solid 2.08 ERA in 8.2 innings. Griffin Canning's rehab has been less sharp—a 5.40 ERA in 10 innings across four outings, with a fifth appearance expected Tuesday.
Over in Double-A, the Missions are struggling, but there's a bright spot for Padres fans: catcher Ethan Salas is heating up. He leads the team in OPS (.859) and slugging (.481), including two homers, offering a glimpse of the future behind the plate. As for first baseman/designated hitter Leandro C., his development remains a storyline to watch as the season unfolds.