MadFriars
@madfriars.bsky.social
The web's top coverage of the Padres' minor league system.
Find us at www.MadFriars.com
Find us at www.MadFriars.com
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MadFriars
@madfriars.bsky.social
· Jan 6
MadFriars Top 30 for 2026 – Jay Edition
Going into the 2025 season, I wrote that the system had more questions than answers. Twelve months later, that's even more true. At least a year ago, the organization had two clear top-50 prospects. N...
madfriars.com
With just under 40 days left before big league camp opens, we continue our individual top 30 Padres prospects series for subscribers with @davidmjay.bsky.social's list.
As always, feel free to direct questions or taunts to him! madfriars.com/2026/01/06/m...
As always, feel free to direct questions or taunts to him! madfriars.com/2026/01/06/m...
Always fun & Derek was a trooper playing “hurt”.
January 23, 2026 at 12:18 AM
Always fun & Derek was a trooper playing “hurt”.
With just under 40 days left before big league camp opens, we continue our individual top 30 Padres prospects series for subscribers with @davidmjay.bsky.social's list.
As always, feel free to direct questions or taunts to him! madfriars.com/2026/01/06/m...
As always, feel free to direct questions or taunts to him! madfriars.com/2026/01/06/m...
MadFriars Top 30 for 2026 – Jay Edition
Going into the 2025 season, I wrote that the system had more questions than answers. Twelve months later, that's even more true. At least a year ago, the organization had two clear top-50 prospects. N...
madfriars.com
January 6, 2026 at 4:46 PM
With just under 40 days left before big league camp opens, we continue our individual top 30 Padres prospects series for subscribers with @davidmjay.bsky.social's list.
As always, feel free to direct questions or taunts to him! madfriars.com/2026/01/06/m...
As always, feel free to direct questions or taunts to him! madfriars.com/2026/01/06/m...
Ever wonder why certain players throw from one side and hit from another? We have a quick look at some of the players in the Padres system, past and present, who did and why. madfriars.com/2026/01/05/o...
Opposites Attract
For El Paso’s Tirso Ornelas, it was easy. Mom hit from the left side. “Everyone in my family is right-handed, but my mom is the only one who is a lefty, and I’ve always been kind
madfriars.com
January 5, 2026 at 2:48 PM
Ever wonder why certain players throw from one side and hit from another? We have a quick look at some of the players in the Padres system, past and present, who did and why. madfriars.com/2026/01/05/o...
For our subscribers: We continue to work through our personal Top 30 lists for subscribers with Ben Davey banking on a healthy back for Ethan Salas. madfriars.com/2025/12/16/m...
MadFriars Top 30 for 2026 – Davey Edition
I led my top 30 list last year with the comment, “eventually Preller will run out of prospects to trade.” I thought that, after trading Dylan Lesko, Robby Snelling, Adam Mazur, and Jakob Marsee, among
madfriars.com
December 16, 2025 at 10:09 PM
For our subscribers: We continue to work through our personal Top 30 lists for subscribers with Ben Davey banking on a healthy back for Ethan Salas. madfriars.com/2025/12/16/m...
madfriars.com/2025/12/09/t... For our subscribers: Clark takes a look at one of the more interesting arms in the system for next season.
Tucker Musgrove turns heads at Arizona Fall League
SURPRISE, Ariz.— Coming into 2025, little was truly known about right-hander Tucker Musgrove. The original plan was for the 2023 seventh-round pick, who was more of an outfielder in college, was to be...
madfriars.com
December 10, 2025 at 10:06 PM
madfriars.com/2025/12/09/t... For our subscribers: Clark takes a look at one of the more interesting arms in the system for next season.
While Ben Davey is finalizing his Top 30, catch up with the annual MadFriars Dining Guide for the affiliates - and no, it was not an oversight that we left off Peoria. madfriars.com/2025/11/24/m...
MadFriars Road Food 2025
El Paso Winner: L&J Cafe This El Paso landmark has been around since 1927, in one form or another, and serves classic Mexican Sonoran border cuisine. It’s one of the rare places that's ...
madfriars.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:39 PM
While Ben Davey is finalizing his Top 30, catch up with the annual MadFriars Dining Guide for the affiliates - and no, it was not an oversight that we left off Peoria. madfriars.com/2025/11/24/m...
Today's the deadline for teams to decide who they'll protect from the Rule 5 draft. For the Padres, the decisions aren't as difficult as they've been in past years.
madfriars.com/2025/11/18/m...
madfriars.com/2025/11/18/m...
Mendez Headlines Padres Rule 5 Decisions
There were years over the last the decade when the Padres faced many difficult decisions about which players to add to the 40-player roster in advance of the Rule 5 draft. As this year's deadline
madfriars.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Today's the deadline for teams to decide who they'll protect from the Rule 5 draft. For the Padres, the decisions aren't as difficult as they've been in past years.
madfriars.com/2025/11/18/m...
madfriars.com/2025/11/18/m...
For our subscribers: We kick off the first of our five Top 30 Padres prospect rankings, and we made the Old Man lead off. Read @johnconniff.bsky.social's breakdown of what is and isn't in the system and how the rapidly closing window at the MLB level could affect it. madfriars.com/2025/11/14/m...
MadFriars Top 30 – Conniff Edition
Going into 2026, most national rankings will have the Padres’ farm system at the bottom of the league. What will soon follow is a standard refrain that Padres President A.J. Preller went “all-in” at t...
madfriars.com
November 15, 2025 at 1:53 PM
For our subscribers: We kick off the first of our five Top 30 Padres prospect rankings, and we made the Old Man lead off. Read @johnconniff.bsky.social's breakdown of what is and isn't in the system and how the rapidly closing window at the MLB level could affect it. madfriars.com/2025/11/14/m...
For our subscribers: Clark Fahrenhold catches up with Braedon Karpathios, a rising star in the San Diego Padres organization from the Arizona Fall League. madfriars.com/2025/11/11/b...
Padres Prospect Interview: Braedon Karpathios
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- It's the top of the ninth inning at Surprise Stadium. Braedon Karpathios digs into the box—the 22-year-old spits on a changeup to start the at-bat. One pitch later, he laces a fastb...
madfriars.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:07 PM
For our subscribers: Clark Fahrenhold catches up with Braedon Karpathios, a rising star in the San Diego Padres organization from the Arizona Fall League. madfriars.com/2025/11/11/b...
As the offseason progresses, @davidmjay.bsky.social examines the San Diego Padres' recent minor league transactions. madfriars.com/2025/11/10/p...
Padres make first offseason acquisition as 22 become minor league free agents
Hours after the offseason officially got underway Thursday, the San Diego Padres made their first addition of the winter, signing journeyman utility player Pablo Lopez to a minor league deal. The 3...
madfriars.com
November 11, 2025 at 12:45 AM
As the offseason progresses, @davidmjay.bsky.social examines the San Diego Padres' recent minor league transactions. madfriars.com/2025/11/10/p...
For our subscribers: We spoke with one of the Padres' top preseason prospects, Romeo Sanabria, about the biggest adjustments in the minors, specifically the jump from A-ball to Double-A. madfriars.com/2025/09/26/p...
Padres Prospect Interview: Romeo Sanabria
SAN ANTONIO -- To minimize travel in the sprawling Double-A Texas League, teams only play one series a year against the five teams outside their division. That means 108 of a team's 138 contests are
madfriars.com
September 26, 2025 at 4:07 PM
For our subscribers: We spoke with one of the Padres' top preseason prospects, Romeo Sanabria, about the biggest adjustments in the minors, specifically the jump from A-ball to Double-A. madfriars.com/2025/09/26/p...
For our subscribers: In the last of our system managerial interviews, we chat with first-year Lake Elsinore Storm manager Brian Burres about some of the prospects that were at the Diamond in 2025. madfriars.com/2025/09/25/p...
Padres Farm System Manager Interview: Brian Burres
LAKE ELSINORE — Brian Burres, 44, is in his third year with the San Diego Padres organization and has just completed his first season as the manager of the Lake Elsinore Storm. Burres is from ...
madfriars.com
September 25, 2025 at 4:03 PM
For our subscribers: In the last of our system managerial interviews, we chat with first-year Lake Elsinore Storm manager Brian Burres about some of the prospects that were at the Diamond in 2025. madfriars.com/2025/09/25/p...
We take a look at the final series of the last team standing, the El Paso Chihuahuas, for our final week in review segment of the 2025 season. madfriars.com/2025/09/23/s...
San Diego Padres Week in Review: September 16 – September 21
El Paso Chihuahuas (Won series at Sugar Land Space Cowboys, 4-2) Players of the Week: Francisco Acuna, 25, spent most of the year with the Double-A San Antonio, where he had a rather pedestrian...
madfriars.com
September 23, 2025 at 3:37 PM
We take a look at the final series of the last team standing, the El Paso Chihuahuas, for our final week in review segment of the 2025 season. madfriars.com/2025/09/23/s...
For our subscribers: Catch up with Cardell Thibodeaux, who went from hitting .143 as a sophomore to .439 as a junior and getting drafted. madfriars.com/2025/09/22/p...
Padres Prospect Interview: Cardell Thibodeaux
LAKE ELSINORE – At the end of the 2024 season, Cardell Thibodeaux was a 20-year-old undersized left fielder coming off a bad sophomore year at the University of Louisiana-Monroe, where he batted just ...
madfriars.com
September 23, 2025 at 1:55 AM
For our subscribers: Catch up with Cardell Thibodeaux, who went from hitting .143 as a sophomore to .439 as a junior and getting drafted. madfriars.com/2025/09/22/p...
Luis Gutierrez shows well in his first PCL outing, and Tirso Ornelas finishes strong, while the final game of the year in the Padres' minor league system is cut short by rain.
We've got all the details in the Daily:
madfriars.com/2025/09/22/p...
We've got all the details in the Daily:
madfriars.com/2025/09/22/p...
San Diego Padres Daily Farm Report: September 21
Sugar Land Space Cowboys 12, Chihuahuas 6 (8 innings) Key Stats: 2B Ripken Reyes 1-for-5, 3B, 2 RBI; RF Tirso Ornelas 2-for-4, BB; CF Trenton Brooks 2-for-4, 2B, BB; SS Francisco Acuña 3-for-4, 2 R...
madfriars.com
September 22, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Luis Gutierrez shows well in his first PCL outing, and Tirso Ornelas finishes strong, while the final game of the year in the Padres' minor league system is cut short by rain.
We've got all the details in the Daily:
madfriars.com/2025/09/22/p...
We've got all the details in the Daily:
madfriars.com/2025/09/22/p...
Jackson Wolf turns in a strong outing to pick up his seventh win of the year as the Chihuahuas go into the final day of the year hot. We've got the details in the Daily:
madfriars.com/2025/09/21/p...
madfriars.com/2025/09/21/p...
San Diego Padres Daily Farm Report: September 20
Chihuahuas 5, Sugar Land Space Cowboys 3 Key Statistics: 1B Tim Locastro 1-for-4, BB; RF Yonathan Perlaza 1-for-4, BB; DH Luis Campusano 1-for-2; 3B Marcos Castañon 1-for-3, 3B, BB; LHP Jackson...
madfriars.com
September 21, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Jackson Wolf turns in a strong outing to pick up his seventh win of the year as the Chihuahuas go into the final day of the year hot. We've got the details in the Daily:
madfriars.com/2025/09/21/p...
madfriars.com/2025/09/21/p...
For our subscribers: Between innings, read about Dylan Grego, a switch-hitting infielder from Ball State, who the Padres selected in the 13th round of this year's draft. madfriars.com/2025/09/20/p...
Padres Prospect Interview: Dylan Grego
LAKE ELSINORE – The Padres drafted switch-hitting middle infielder Dylan Grego in the 13th round of this year's draft out of Ball State University. Grego, a Kansas City native, had entered the transf...
madfriars.com
September 20, 2025 at 11:16 PM
For our subscribers: Between innings, read about Dylan Grego, a switch-hitting infielder from Ball State, who the Padres selected in the 13th round of this year's draft. madfriars.com/2025/09/20/p...
Yonathan Perlaza is on the verge of a feat that hasn't been accomplished in nearly 20 years, but his performance wasn't enough to get El Paso a victory. We've got the details in the Daily:
madfriars.com/2025/09/20/p...
madfriars.com/2025/09/20/p...
San Diego Padres Daily Farm Report: September 18
Sugar Land Space Cowboys 8, Chihuahuas 5 Key Statistics: RF Yonathan Perlaza 2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI; CF Tirso Ornelas 2-for-3, 2 BB; 2B Ripken Reyes 1-for-2, R, BB, 2 RBI; RHP Matt Waldron 5 IP, 5
madfriars.com
September 20, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Yonathan Perlaza is on the verge of a feat that hasn't been accomplished in nearly 20 years, but his performance wasn't enough to get El Paso a victory. We've got the details in the Daily:
madfriars.com/2025/09/20/p...
madfriars.com/2025/09/20/p...
JP Sears stays sharp and Luis Campusano continues to excel down the stretch. That and more in the Daily:
madfriars.com/2025/09/19/s...
madfriars.com/2025/09/19/s...
San Diego Padres Daily Farm Report: September 18
Chihuahuas 5, Sugar Land Space Cowboys 1 Key Stats: LHP JP Sears 4 IP, ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 6 K; LHP Omar Cruz (W, 5-5) 2 IP, H, 4 BB, 2 K; RHP Sean Reynolds,
madfriars.com
September 19, 2025 at 2:11 PM
JP Sears stays sharp and Luis Campusano continues to excel down the stretch. That and more in the Daily:
madfriars.com/2025/09/19/s...
madfriars.com/2025/09/19/s...
For our subscribers: Continuing with our look at the Lake Elsinore Storm "basketball team", we chat with Kannon Kemp - an outstanding name for a pitcher and one of the Padres' top draft picks in 2023 - about his first full season on the mound. madfriars.com/2025/09/18/p...
Padres Prospect Interview: Kannon Kemp
LAKE ELSINORE — Kannon Kemp may have been the Padres' eighth-round pick in the 2023 draft, but that doesn't fully tell the story of how he was seen coming out of high school in Texas. Then
madfriars.com
September 18, 2025 at 5:32 PM
For our subscribers: Continuing with our look at the Lake Elsinore Storm "basketball team", we chat with Kannon Kemp - an outstanding name for a pitcher and one of the Padres' top draft picks in 2023 - about his first full season on the mound. madfriars.com/2025/09/18/p...
Victor Lizarraga delivers five solid innings and Tirso Ornelas launches a grand slam to turn the Chihuahuas win into a laugher. We've got that and more in the Daily:
madfriars.com/2025/09/18/p...
madfriars.com/2025/09/18/p...
San Diego padres Daily Farm Report: September 17
Chihuahuas 13, Sugar Land Space Cowboys 2 Key Stats: DH Luis Campusano 2-for-5, R, RBI, BB; 2B Clay Dungan 2-for-6, 2B; RF Yonathan Perlaza 3-for-5, R, 2 RBI, BB; CF Tirso Ornelas 2-for-5, HR (10) ...
madfriars.com
September 18, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Victor Lizarraga delivers five solid innings and Tirso Ornelas launches a grand slam to turn the Chihuahuas win into a laugher. We've got that and more in the Daily:
madfriars.com/2025/09/18/p...
madfriars.com/2025/09/18/p...
For our subscribers: Between innings, catch up with one of the Padres' better undrafted free agent signings, 6-foot-7, 275-pound outfielder Alex McCoy, who led the Storm with a .903 OPS in 2025. madfriars.com/2025/09/17/p...
Padres Prospect Interview: Alex McCoy
LAKE ELSINORE -- In an organization that has become renowned for finding talent in the ranks of undrafted free agents, Alex McCoy, 23, has the potential to emerge as one of the Padres' scouting depart...
madfriars.com
September 18, 2025 at 12:08 AM
For our subscribers: Between innings, catch up with one of the Padres' better undrafted free agent signings, 6-foot-7, 275-pound outfielder Alex McCoy, who led the Storm with a .903 OPS in 2025. madfriars.com/2025/09/17/p...
Garrett Hawkins finished a strong campaign with another stellar week, Rodolfo Durán stays hot down the stretch, and another bullpen arm is emerging. That and plenty more in the weekly review: madfriars.com/2025/09/16/s...
San Diego Padres Week in Review: September 9 – 14
With the two Single-A teams already done for the year and instructional league work getting underway in the desert, we've still got plenty going on across the site. Subscribers have a profile on Jagge...
madfriars.com
September 16, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Garrett Hawkins finished a strong campaign with another stellar week, Rodolfo Durán stays hot down the stretch, and another bullpen arm is emerging. That and plenty more in the weekly review: madfriars.com/2025/09/16/s...
Rodolfo Durán hits for the cycle, Matt Waldron leans on the knuckleball in a victory, and Eguy Rosario homers again. That and more in the Daily:
madfriars.com/2025/09/14/p...
madfriars.com/2025/09/14/p...
San Diego Padres Daily Farm Report: September 13
Chihuahuas 16, Albuquerque Isotopes 3 Key Statistics: 2B Clay Dungan 1-for-4, BB, SB (30); DH Luis Campusano 1-for-4, 4 BB, 3 R; C Rodolfo Durán 4-for-5, 2B, 3B, GS HR (14) BB, 7 RBI; LF Tim
madfriars.com
September 14, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Rodolfo Durán hits for the cycle, Matt Waldron leans on the knuckleball in a victory, and Eguy Rosario homers again. That and more in the Daily:
madfriars.com/2025/09/14/p...
madfriars.com/2025/09/14/p...
For our subscribers: We catch up with our old friend Jagger Haynes on making the jump to Double-A with the Missions this season. madfriars.com/2025/09/13/j...
Jagger Haynes: Making the Jump
SAN ANTONIO -- For years, people in minor league baseball said the toughest leap for a young player was from High-A to Double-A. Shifts in league alignments and smaller rosters that force players to m...
madfriars.com
September 13, 2025 at 9:47 PM
For our subscribers: We catch up with our old friend Jagger Haynes on making the jump to Double-A with the Missions this season. madfriars.com/2025/09/13/j...