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These 10 hats took the crown in 2023

Minor League clubs create fan favorites with fun, fashion
@Kelsie_Heneghan
January 12, 2024

From historic to anthropomorphic, Minor League hats are something else. They can represent the city, the culture, the cuisine, and they look good doing it. For the sixth straight season, MiLB celebrates National Hat Day by looking at some of the top-selling Minor League caps per New Era and MiLBStore.com.

This season's most improved farm systems

Six organizations that made the biggest leap in 2023
@SamDykstraMiLB
December 27, 2023

We talk about breakout prospects all the time, like Ethan Salas going from being a 16-year-old new signee to a Double-A player in just a few months or Junior Caminero starting the season outside the Top 100 and ending it at No. 6 (and likely higher by the time of

These prospects rebounded in a big way in 2023

A dozen players got their careers back on track with big seasons
December 25, 2023

Some prospects never struggle on their way to the Major Leagues. For example, the first two guys on our Top 100 Prospects list, Orioles shortstop Jackson Holliday and Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio, have yet to taste failure in pro ball. They're the exceptions, however. Most prospects face adversity at some

See the ol' ballgame in a new way at these parks

These six Minor League teams offer up different sights and sounds
@BensBiz
December 20, 2023

Looking for a respite from the sameness of the seat and the banality of the berm? Then consider visiting these six Minor League ballparks. You can watch the game from a unique and memorable location at each one. - Ballpark Guides Presented by Wyndham for EVERY Minor League team -

Ben's Biz MiLB roundup: New logos unveiled

Rome, Lake Elsinore, Erie, Winston-Salem & IronPigs refresh looks
@BensBiz
November 25, 2023

This is an excerpt from the latest edition of the Ben's Biz Beat Newsletter, bringing Minor League Baseball business and culture news to your inbox each and every Thursday. Check out the full newsletter HERE. Subscribe HERE.

Salas, Snelling highlight Padres' Organization All-Stars

San Diego's teen stars usher in the new era headed to Petco Park
@Gerard_Gilberto
October 19, 2023

Each offseason, MiLB.com goes position by position across each organization and honors the players -- regardless of age or prospect status -- who had the best seasons in each farm system. Next up in our 2023 Organization All-Stars series are the San Diego Padres. 2023 organization summary: Triple-A El Paso:

The Show Before the Show: Episode 428

Padres' Pauley chats AFL start, 2023 breakout season
October 13, 2023

Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other

Double trouble: Marsee turns up the power

No. 12 Padres prospect leads long ball barrage with two homers
October 6, 2023

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Jakob Marsee quickly has made a name for himself in pro ball, going from a sixth-round pick out of Central Michigan in 2022 to a prospect whom clubs asked the Padres about in trade talks this summer. Marsee is a well-rounded player yet not particularly known for

Copa celebrations bring la Diversión

Modesto, Columbia celebrate Latin culture with ballpark festivities
@Gerard_Gilberto
September 8, 2023

Each month, MiLB.com spotlights an aspect of Copa de la Diversión, Minor League Baseball's Hispanic fan engagement initiative sponsored by Nationwide, the program's official insurance partner. This edition celebrates the unique ballpark entertainment that lives up to the spirit of the Copa program. Check out our look at the similar

Snelling, Salas team up for five hitless frames

No. 3 Padres prospect fans 9 with 17-year-old as his backstop
August 31, 2023

In the past couple of weeks, the news surrounding the Padres' affiliate in San Antonio revolved around Ethan Salas becoming the youngest Double-A player since 2014. On Wednesday night, Robby Snelling entered the conversation, one that did still feature Salas. The No. 3 left-handed pitching prospect in baseball per MLB

Road to The Show™: Prospects' postseason push

Holliday, Salas among biggest names impacting playoff picture
@Gerard_Gilberto
August 29, 2023

Each week, MiLB.com profiles an elite prospect by chronicling the steps he's taken toward achieving his Major League dream. For more stories about players on The Road to The Show, click here. While many clubs are battling for the final postseason spots, others have already booked their playoff tickets with

Walk-off caps teen Salas' first Double-A game

Top Padres prospect doubles to give Missions victory in the 10th
@JesseABorek
August 23, 2023

By virtue of merely suiting up for Double-A San Antonio on Tuesday night, Ethan Salas made history by becoming the first player to appear at the level at 17 years old since 2014. But Salas didn’t just put on his gear -- he ripped a walk-off double in the 10th

17-year-old Salas heading to Double-A (report)

Top Padres prospect will move up to his third level of the year
August 20, 2023

Ethan Salas won’t turn 18 years old until June 2024. But the Padres' top prospect continues to rise up the Minor League ranks. Salas, MLB Pipeline’s No. 5 prospect, has been promoted to Double-A San Antonio, according to multiple reports. The club has not confirmed the news. The 17-year-old catcher

Merrill manufactures runs in ways great, small

No. 2 Padres prospect launches 13th tater of year, steals home
@MavalloneMiLB
August 18, 2023

With each passing day, Jackson Merrill is proving to be one of the most dynamic players in the Minors. MLB Pipeline's No. 9 overall prospect left the yard and also swiped home for Double-A San Antonio, which fell to Midland, 9-4, on Thursday night at Nelson Wolff Stadium. The performance

The Road to The Show™: Padres’ Snelling

No. 76 overall prospect shows dominance in first taste of pro ball
@Gerard_Gilberto
August 8, 2023

Each week, MiLB.com profiles an elite prospect by chronicling the steps he's taken toward achieving his Major League dream. Here's a look at Padres fourth-ranked prospect Robby Snelling. For more stories about players on The Road to The Show, click here. With multiple options in front of him coming out

Summer of Salas sweeping Cal League circuit

No. 2 Padres prospect delivers first pro four-hit outing for Storm
@JesseABorek
July 27, 2023

From the moment the Padres inked Ethan Salas to a professional contract in January, the preternaturally gifted catcher has carried lofty expectations. His first foray into the affiliate ball ranks has proven that not only can the 17-year-old carry his own, he’s lapping any preconceived notions of how quickly a

Merrill still mashing, but now on a Mission

After three-hit game, top Padres prospect batting .321 at Double-A
@Steph_Sheehan
July 21, 2023

Jackson Merrill has officially brought his sweet-swinging ways to Alamo City. MLB’s No. 9 overall prospect launched his first Double-A home run -- his 11th dinger of the year -- as part of his second straight three-hit effort in the San Antonio Missions’ 10-3 loss. The 20-year-old has hit safely

Add HR streak, multihomer game to Salas' resume

Padres' 17-year-old prospect racking up milestones with the Storm
July 7, 2023

It's only 28 games into the career of 17-year-old Ethan Salas, but he's already living up to the advance billing. On Thursday, the second-ranked Padres prospect added a couple more superlatives to his burgeoning resume. First, Salas extended his home run streak to three straight games for Single-A Lake Elsinore.

The best of the Padres' Minor League ballparks 

From Midwest to Southwest, San Diego system full of unique stops
@Kelsie_Heneghan
June 27, 2023

The Minor League Ballpark Guides series presented by Wyndham brings all the most fun features of Minors ballparks across America (and one in Canada!) onto your desktop, tablet or mobile device, whether you're interested in taking a virtual tour from where you sit or planning a trip to catch some

TinCaps' Merrill rediscovering power, consistency

Top Padres prospect goes yard again as part of a three-hit game
@EvanKDesai
June 16, 2023

Jackson Merrill is starting to find the fences with regularity. And along with the power, he's finding some consistency as well. MLB Pipeline's No. 14 overall prospect went yard for the second day in a row for High-A Fort Wayne, going 3-for-4 with a double, a walk and three RBIs

17 and slugging: Storm's Salas swats first homer

Third-ranked Padres prospect goes deep in sixth professional game
@MavalloneMiLB
June 7, 2023

Call it a belated birthday present for Ethan Salas, who is doing things on a professional stage at an age when most kids are preparing to graduate high school. Competing in just his sixth game for Single-A Lake Elsinore, baseball's No. 86 overall prospect connected on his first career homer

TinCaps, city of Fort Wayne honor AAGPBL club

Monument dedicated to female pro team Daisies unveiled
@Steph_Sheehan
June 3, 2023

On a warm June night in northeast Indiana, Fort Wayne's Parkview Field was full of daisies. The Daisies of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, to be exact. The High-A TinCaps honored the city's AAGPBL team on Saturday, wearing replica jerseys and unveiling a monument dedicated to the club that

Teen sensation Salas lives up to billing in pro debut

Padres phenom doubles, singles and scores Storm's go-ahead run
@Steph_Sheehan
May 31, 2023

Ethan Salas doesn't even have a learner's permit yet, but the 16-year-old phenom already has a license to hit. The Padres’ No. 3 prospect skipped over the Rookie-level Complex League entirely and was assigned to Single-A to begin his professional career. As if that wasn’t impressive enough, Salas scored the

El Niño continues homer barrage in stint for El Paso

Padres' OF Tatis Jr. adds four more hits, two long balls at Triple-A
April 16, 2023

Fernando Tatis Jr.'s rehab assignment with Triple-A El Paso could not be going any better for the two-time Major League Silver Slugger. Already hitting .478 this season as he entered Saturday night's game against Triple-A Albuquerque, the Padres' 2021 All-Star couldn't be stopped yet again. Tatis wasted no time to

Tatis Jr. Ties Team Records in 19-6 Thursday Win

Padres star goes 5-for-6 with three home runs, double, eight RBIs
April 14, 2023

El Paso 19 Albuquerque 6 – Thursday WP: Groome (1-1) LP: Criswell (1-2) S: None Time: 2:35 Attn: 7,875 San Diego Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. went 5-for-6 with three home runs, a double and eight RBIs in his sixth MLB rehab game with the El Paso Chihuahuas Thursday night.