It took three years for Miguel Mendez to get back to the Midwest League.

He’s making the most of the opportunity.

The 23-year-old right-hander struck out six over seven shutout innings, leading high Single-A Fort Wayne to a 3-0 win over visiting Quad Cities on Thursday.

Mendez (6-2) scattered four hits without a walk and threw 62 of his 91 pitches for strikes in lowering his ERA to 1.61 in 50⅓ innings with the TinCaps. He has struck out 57, walked 20 and held opposing hitters to a .191 average.

Mendez opened the year with three starts at Lake Elsinore (3.97 ERA), where he has spent all of 2024 (3.86 ERA) and 2023 (5.96 ERA).

Mendez threw 1⅓ innings at Fort Wayne in 2022 after beginning that year in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League (7.97 ERA).

Right-hander Garrett Hawkins (1.70 ERA) followed Mendez into the game, striking out five over two shutout innings for his sixth save.

Shortstop Leo De Vries (.765 OPS) went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a walk in his last game before heading to the All-Star Futures Game.

Second baseman Brandon Butterworth (.756 OPS) went 1-for-3 with two RBIs.

Fort Wayne is 41-42.

 

Notable

  • C Ethan Salas, on Double-A San Antonio’s injured list since mid-April with a stress reaction in the lower right side of his back, continues to trend toward resuming back baseball activity at the end of the month. The Padres have every expectation that Salas will return to game action with the Missions before the end of the season.
  • RHP Bradgley Rodriguez landed on Triple-A El Paso’s seven-day injured list with shoulder inflammation, an injury that has been since describe as in a similar spot to what ailed him when he missed roughly two weeks last month after his return from the majors. The Padres expect Rodriguez, 21, to return to the mound this season.

 

Thursday’s scoreboard

TRIPLE-A EL PASO (48-42)

Las Vegas 6, Chihuahuas 4: C Luis Campusano (1.052 OPS) went 0-for-2 with two walks and a run scored. RF Yonathan Perlaza (.853 OPS) went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. DH Clay Dungan (.835 OPS) had the other extra-base hit, a double. RHP Logan Gillaspie (0-1, 5.65 ERA) allowed four runs in two innings in the start. LHP Omar Cruz (5.33 ERA) allowed two runs in two innings. RHP Manuel Castro (0.00 ERA) struck out two over two scoreless innings.

 

DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (46-38)

Missions 8, Wichita 6: RHP Enmanuel Pinales (5-4, 6.60 ERA) struck out six and allowed four runs — three earned — in 5⅔ innings in the win. RHP Tyson Neighbors (4.05 ERA) turned in 1⅓ scoreless innings. RHP Kevin Kopps (8.10 ERA) allowed two runs in two innings. C Anthony Vilar (.643 OPS) drove in two runs on three hits, including his fourth homer and a double.

 

LOW SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (38-46)

Visalia 7, Storm 4: LHP Boston Bateman (5-5, 4.20 ERA) allowed seven runs in 3 ⅔ innings on seven hits and three walks. SS Chase Valentine (.574 OPS) doubled twice. DH Kale Fountain (.600 OPS) went 1-for-5 with a double and an RBI in his California League debut. He hit .262/.386/.364 in 31 games in rookie ball to start his career.

 

ROOKIE ACL PADRES (12-38)

Royals 9, Padres 6: CF Jesmaylin Arias (.570 OPS) hit his second homer. RF Donte Grant (.733 OPS) and DH Yimy Tovar (.763 OPS) both had three hits.

 

ROOKIE DSL BROWN (15-12)

Brewers 5, Padres 1: RHP Wilfred Paca (1-3, 5.79 ERA) allowed three runs in four innings in the loss. SS Tom Guerrero (.588 OPS) went 1-for-2 with a double with a walk and a run scored. 3B Yonaiker Hernandez (.678 OPS) went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

 

ROOKIE DSL GOLD (18-10)

Dodgers 5, Padres 4: RHP Jose Montijo (3-1, 4.91 ERA) allowed three runs in two innings in the loss. RF Eddson Martinez (.783 OPS) drove in two runs on two hits and a walk.

Padres 2, Dodgers 1 (7): RHP Jose Blanco (2-1, 6.75 ERA) recorded all five of his outs to end the game via strikeouts. RHP Jesus Castro (2.37 ERA) struck out eight over 4⅔ no-hit innings in the start.