The Padres needed $1.7 million to lure Kale Fountain away from LSU in 2024, even as a fifth-rounder.

For good reason: He owned Nebraska’s career high school home run record.

And he’s beginning to make good on that potential.

The Padres’ 20-year-old prospect hit his second home run of the season on Thursday, leading low Single-A Lake Elsinore to an 11-7 win at Stockton.

Fountain drove in two runs on the blast, his only hit in five at-bats. Fountain struck out three times and is hitting .196/.275/.370 in 11 games to start his second season in the system.

Fountain hit three homers in 65 games last year.

The Padres drafted Fountain as a third baseman and then relegated him mostly to DH duty last year following Tommy John surgery after the draft. He did play some first base and third base as he moved further way from the surgery, but the Padres have moved him to the right field to see what the 6-foot-4 Fountain can handle.

Second baseman Justin DeCriscio (.994 OPS) and third baseman Kerrington Cross (.842 OPS) both hit their first homers of the season.

Catcher Truitt Madonna (.747 OPS) doubled twice and designated hitter Bradley Frye (1.080 OPS) drove in two runs on three hits.

Right-hander Bryan Balzer (2-0, 3.21 ERA) struck out five and allowed four runs in five innings in the win.

Lake Elsinore is 5-7.

 

Thursday’s scoreboard

TRIPLE-A EL PASO (7-11)

Round Rock 10, Chihuahuas 9: RHP Griffin Canning (0-1, 4.32 ERA) walked four and allowed six runs — two earned — on one hit in 2⅔ innings in his third rehab start. Canning struck out six. He is returning from Achilles surgery. SS Mason McCoy (.711 OPS) hit his second and third homers of the season and drove in four runs. 2B Nick Solak (.729 OPS) drove in three runs on two hits.

 

DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (4-8)

Missions 4, Midland 1: C Ethan Salas (.686 OPS) went 1-for-3 with a double, an RBI and two walks. He also stole his second base. 2B Ryan Jackson (.576 OPS) and 3B Luis Verdugo (.993 OPS) both had doubles and CF Braedon Karpathios (.450 OPS) had a triple. RHP Miguel Mendez (1-0, 1.42 ERA) struck out six and allowed a run in five innings in the win. RHP Eric Yost (0.93 ERA) earned his first save with four shutout innings in relief.

 

HIGH SINGLE- A FORT WAYNE (4-7)

TinCaps 8, Lake County 3: LF Jake Cunningham (1.148 OPS) drove in four runs on his second and third homers of the season. C Lamar King Jr. (.638 OPS) hit his first homer during a three-hit game. DH Alex McCoy (1.025 OPS) hit his third homer and 3B Rosman Verdugo (.383 OPS) hit his first homer. RHP Tucker Musgrove (1-0, 0.00 ERA) struck out the side in his 2026 debut in the fifth inning after RHP Carson Montgomery (2.25 ERA) allowed two runs in four innings in the start.

 

Notable

LHP Marco Gonzales was placed on El Paso’s seven-day injured list with what’s described as a tired arm. He could return to the rotation next weekend.
C Ty Harvey is on the Lake Elsinore’s injured list with a left hamstring strain.