Padres fall to Dodgers as top prospects try and find their stride

The San Diego Padres were dealt their first loss of 2025 spring training in an 8-3 loss to the Dodgers that was much closer than the scoreline suggests. The game would be tied at three a piece heading into the eighth inning, but a five run bottom half of the frame put the Dodgers in a comfortable spot to win. The first matchup between the two NL West rivals, the Padres were looking for revenge after a loss to the Dodgers in the 2024 NLDS.

Padres top prospects still looking for breakout

After a seemingly positive start to the game with Tyler Wade knocking a single off of recently returned Dodgers starter Dustin May, and immediately stealing second base, the Padres would hold on in a tightly contested game until it unravled late.

San Diego would compile seven total hits, with no player notching more than one. Mike Brosseau would collect his first hit of the spring, while Ethan Salas would record his first run, hit, and RBI of the spring.

Salas, who started the game at catcher and played until the fifth, notched an RBI double in the top of the second to give the Padres an early lead. Forest Wall, who was signed to a minor league contract early in the offseason, would drive Salas in on a single later in the inning. After grounding out in the top of the fourth, he would be replaced by Brett Sullivan, who would end the game hitless with two strikeouts in his two at-bats.

Trenton Brooks, who was signed from San Francisco, would drive in the Padres third and final run of the game in the top of the seventh, doubling to score rule-5 draft pick Jake Snider.

Other Padres top prospect Leo De Vries is still looking to find his footing in spring training, finishing this game 0-3 at the plate with one strike out. De Vries has yet to record a hit this spring, but with only five at-bats, Padres fans should not be too worried as of yet.

On the mound, Padres pitcher Austin Davis would take the loss, giving up three earned runs in 0.2 innings of work. Recent Double-A call-up Cole Paplham would give up two runs after replacing Davis, contributing to a game winning eighth inning for Los Angeles.

Braden Nett, who started the game and made his Padres debut, would give up three earned runs in two innings of work, facing a very strong Dodgers lineup that consisted of Mookie Betts, Michael Conforto, Tommy Edman, Andy Pages, and a number of other Dodger veterans.

San Diego will be back in action on Monday to face the Chicago Cubs at 12:10 PM.