Jhony Brito continues to make a case for a shot in the Padres rotation.
He allowed three unearned runs in five innings in Triple-A El Paso’s 5-2 loss at Sugar Land on Saturday. Brito struck out six and scattered two hits and two walks in lowering his ERA to 0.96 through four appearances with the Chihuahuas.
Brito (1-1) threw 45 of his 72 pitches for strikes. He’s thrown as many as six innings (at Double-A San Antonio) in this first year back from an elbow reconstruction, but has yet to throw more than 77 pitches in a game.
Jake Cronenworth (concussion) served as the DH in his second rehab game with El Paso and went 1-for-4 with a run scored and a strikeout. He homered on Friday while playing seven innings at second base.
Shortstop Mason McCoy (.803 OPS) went 2-for-4 with a double and his 17th steal.
Second baseman Pablo Reyes (.935 OPS) went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a runs scored.
El Paso is 36-44.
Saturday’s scoreboard
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (32-42)
Arkansas 9, Missions 1: LHP Omar Cruz (3-2, 3.45 ERA) allowed a run in an inning in the start and RHP Clay Edmondson (21.60 ERA) allowed four runs in 1⅓ innings. RHP Tucker Musgrove (0.00 ERA) struck out three and walked two over two scoreless innings. RF Tirso Ornelas (.802 OPS) went 2-for-4 with his 11th homer.
HIGH SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (32-42)
Lake County 8, TinCaps 6: RHP Bryan Balzer (0-1, 14.73 ERA) walked five and allowed six runs in 3⅔ innings in his Midwest League debut. SS Justin DeCriscio (.803 OPS) drove in two runs on two hits, including his sixth homer. CF Ryan Wideman (.638 OPS) went 1-for-2 with two RBIs, two walks and a run scored.
LOW SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (40-34)
Fresno 10, Storm 5: RHP Tyler Schmitt (4-4, 4.88 ERA) allowed three runs in an inning in the start. DH Dawson Willis (.893 OPS) went 1-for-3 with two RBIs. 1B Yoiber Ocopio (.766 OPS) hit a triple and 3B Bradley Frye (.724 OPS) went 1-for-3 with two walks and a run scored.
ROOKIE DSL BROWN (4-15) / GOLD (16-4)
Gold 12, Brown 8: SS Timothy Mogen (.799 OPS) and DH Johanneiker Leon (.645 OPS) both hit their first homers. Leon drove in four runs. Mogen, CF Sebastian Pena (.847 OPS), 1B Angel Mejia (.799 OPS) and RF Cristian Benavides (.868 OPS) all had two hits. Pena and Benavides each doubled. CF Endy Rios (.816 OPS) drove in two runs on three hits, including a double, for the losing team.
Surprise, AZ – February 21: Pablo Reyes 26 of the San Diego Padres runs during a spring training game against the Kansas City Royals on February 21, 2026 in Surprise, AZ. (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Farm system leaders
(Through Friday; Minimum 150 plate appearances, 55 innings)
AVG: .325 – 3B Pablo Reyes (AAA)
OBP: .469 – 1B Kerrington Cross (A / A+)
SLG: .601 – Cross
HRs: 15 – OF Jake Cunningham (A+)
RBIs: 45 – OF Ryan Wideman (A / A+), OF Carlos Rodriguez (AAA), Cross
SBs: 46 – Wideman
Wins: 6 – RHP Bryan Balzer (A), RHP Sean Boyle (AAA)
ERA: 3.18 – RHP Winyer Chourio (A / A+)
Ks: 78 – Chourio
WHIP: 1.24 – RHP Bryan Balzer (A)
K/BB: 2.79 – Chourio
Saves: 11 – RHP Clay Edmondson (A+ / AA)