Two 2026 draftees are off and running at low Single-A Lake Elsinore.
Third baseman Nu’u Contrades and left fielder Alex Conover hit their first professional home runs, leading the storm to a 5-2 win over visiting Ontario on Thursday.
A fourth-round compensation pick out of Oklahoma State, the 20-year-old Conover drove in two runs on his blast. He went 0-for-4 in his debut on Wednesday and went 1-for-3 on Thursday.
A sixth-round pick out of Arizona state, Contrades was 0-for-2 in his debut on Wednesday before going 1-for-3 with a walk on Thursday.
Drafted as a catcher out of USS in the 10th round, Augie Lopez debuted at first base on Thursday and went 1-for-3 with a two-run double.
On the mound, right-hander Michael Salina — a fourth-round pick last year out of St. Bonaventure — appeared to leave with an injury after striking out a batter in a scoreless fourth inning in his Storm debut. Salina is building back from the Tommy John surgery he underwent before the 2025 draft.
Right-hander Lan-Hong Su 6-62 ERA) struck out four and allowed an unearned run in three innings in the start.
Left-hander Zack Qin (1-1, 7.27 ERA) struck out five and allowed a run in three innings in relief.
Lake Elsinore is 55-50.
Thursday’s scoreboard
TRIPLE-A EL PASO (44-66)
Reno 6, Chihuahuas 4: RHP Hunter Stratton (0.00 ERA) struck out a batter, walked a batter and allowed a hit in a scoreless inning in his organizational debut. RHP Alek Jacob (4.98 ERA) struck out a batter in a scoreless eighth. RHP Andrew Thurman (0-1, 11.81 ERA) allowed five runs in four innings in the loss. 1B Nick Pratto (.738 OPS) drove in two runs on his ninth homer.
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (46-59)
Spring field 9, Missions 2: LHP Fernando Sanchez (1-2, 6.23 ERA) allowed six runs — five earned — in 1⅔ innings in the start. 1B Jack Costello (1.250 OPS) went 2-for-4 with a double.
HIGH SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (46-57)
TinCaps 3, W.Michigan 0: C Lamar King Jr. (.622 OPS) drove in two runs on his fourth homer. 3B Kerrington Cross (.694 OPS) hit his fourth homer. RHP Carson Montgomery (3-6, 4.46 ERA) struck out three and allowed one hit and two walks over six shutout innings in the win.
ROOKIE DSL BROWN (9-36)
Orioles 6, Padres 0 (7): SS Dawry Guerrero (.660 OPS) worked two of his team’s four walks in a no-hit loss.
ROOKIE DSL GOLD (34-13)
Padres 4, Reds 3 (7): DH Sebastian Nadales (.968 OPS) went 1-for-3 with a walk-off single. 2B Yorvin Morla (.876 OPS) went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. 1B Dayquer Alfonzo (1.066 OPS) went 0-for-2 with an RBI and two walks.