The Padres like to challenge their young prospects. The California League is next on Joey Cantillo’s to-do list.
The 19-year-old left-hander debuted with high Single-A Lake Elsinore with an up-and-down showing in a 3-1 loss on Sunday.
Cantillo struck out the first batter he faced and three in the first inning. He also walked in that frame and four in an outing that saw him exit with three runs allowed in 4 1/3 innings.
Cantillo (0-1, 6.23) struck out seven and surrendered five hits. The four walks he allowed were three more than he issued in all of June, when he struck out 30 batters in 25 innings in the Midwest League.