Padres get lots of hits from minor leaguers in rout of Royals – San Diego Union-Tribune

SURPRISE, Ariz. — The Padres beat the Kansas City Royals 10-3 on Saturday at Surprise Stadium.

Batter’s box: Freddy Fermin and Ramón Laureano doubled, but most of the Padres’ 18 hits came from minor leaguers or players in camp on minor-league contracts. … Jose Miranda, a non-roster invitee after spending the past four seasons with the Twins, followed a home run and a double in Friday’s spring training opener by going 3-for-3 with a double Saturday. … Nick Solak homered off Jonathan Heasley, an MLB veteran in Royals camp on a minor-league deal. Solak, a 31-year-old infielder with nearly 1,000 MLB plate appearances, is in Padres camp on a minor-league contract. … Carlos Rodríguez, who had a .640 OPS for the Braves’ Triple-A team in 2025, was 2-for-3. … Outfielder Jase Bowen singled, stole a base and scored. Bowen posted an .870 OPS in the Triple-A International League last season while in the Pirates organization and signed as a minor-league free agent this winter. … Samad Taylor, an infielder who has played 38 big-league games over the past three seasons and signed a minor-league deal with the Padres in the offseason, was 2-for-2 with a double. … Ethan Salas, the Padres’ top prospect, drove in a run with an infield single. … Mason McCoy tripled, reached base on catcher interference and drove in a run by beating out a double play attempt. McCoy, who has hit .183 in 37 games for the Padres over the past two seasons, is trying to make the club as an extra infielder and baserunning specialist.

Balls and strikes: Matt Waldron worked two scoreless innings in 24 pitches. Waldron, who is battling for the one or two available rotation spots, allowed a hit, walked a batter and struck out two. … Miguel Mendez, the Padres’ third-ranked pitching prospect, worked a scoreless fourth inning with help from Fermin throwing out Bobby Witt Jr. attempting to steal second base. Mendez then walked two batters and gave up a double before being lifted with one out in the fifth. … Ron Marinaccio worked a 1-2-3 third inning in 15 pitches. … Alek Jacob replaced Mendez with the bases loaded. He got a strikeout before hitting a batter and walking a batter. … Jacob and Marinacco are among those competing for what might be one available spot in the bullpen. Marinaccio cannot be optioned and would have to be on the roster or placed on waivers. …  Bradgley Rodriguez, who allowed one run in 7⅔ innings (seven appearances) in his first MLB season in 2025, allowed an infield single in a scoreless seventh inning.

Extra bases: Royals right-hander Ryan Bergert started the first inning and ended it by getting a groundout from Fermin, the Padres catcher for whom Bergert and Stephen Kolek were traded at the deadline last season. … Fermin successfully challenged a ball call in the second inning. He and Luis Campusano are perfect on three ABS challenges in two spring games. … Bowen ran down a long fly ball and made an over-the-shoulder catch at the wall in left field.

On deck: Right-hander Randy Vásquez will start against the Dodgers, 12:10 p.m. PT today in Peoria, Ariz.