San Diego Padres Announce 2026 Fort Wayne TinCaps Break Camp Roster
MWL Fort Wayne TinCaps

San Diego Padres Announce 2026 Fort Wayne TinCaps Break Camp Roster

Published on March 28, 2026 under Midwest League (MWL)
Fort Wayne TinCaps News Release


FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The Fort Wayne TinCaps, in conjunction with the San Diego Padres, have announced the preliminary Opening Day roster for the 2026 season. The roster is highlighted by MLB.com's No. 4 Padres prospect and 2024 first-round pick, left-handed pitcher Kash Mayfield.

Mayfield is one of six players on the roster ranked by MLB.com among the Padres Top 30 prospects. Others include catcher/first baseman Lamar King Jr. (No. 16), right-handed pitcher Kannon Kemp (No. 19), outfielders Alex McCoy (No. 21) and Kavares Tears (No. 27), and right-handed pitcher Jaxon Dalena (No. 30). Right-handed pitchers Clay Edmondson and Kleiber Olmedo, shortstop Dylan Grego, and outfielder Kasen Wells all participated in the Padres spring breakout game in mid-March.

Mayfield grew up in Elk City, Oklahoma, two hours west of Oklahoma City, and was named the state's Gatorade High School Player of the Year in 2023 and 2024. In his senior season, he allowed just one earned run in 44 innings (0.16 ERA), striking out 115 batters. He was later selected 25th overall in the 2024 MLB Draft by the Padres. In his first season in professional baseball, the southpaw struck out 88 in 60 2/3 innings across 19 starts with Single-A Lake Elsinore, posting a 2.97 ERA. His 34.1% strikeout-rate ranked second out of 163 Single-A pitchers with at least 60 innings pitched.

Thirteen of the 29 players headed to Fort Wayne have appeared at Parkview Field in the past, including 2025 TinCaps Community Player of the Year, Jack Costello. The team will be traveling to the Summit City this weekend from Padres Spring Training in Peoria, Ariz.

Announced in January, Jonathan Mathews returns to Fort Wayne for his second stint as manager. Mathews, who began with the 'Caps as a hitting coach from 2018-2021, brought Fort Wayne to the Midwest League Postseason as the manager in 2023 after winning the second-half East Division title.

"We are excited to get the season going and welcome in the entire team," TinCaps President Mike Nutter said. "We hope to continue to be a great proving-ground for some of the best prospects in the Padres system and the entire sport, and can't wait for them to be a part of the entire community."

Over 4% of players on MLB Opening Day rosters at one point called Parkview Field home. Thirty-three former TinCaps are listed across 15 of 30 major league teams headed into 2026. Since Fort Wayne's Minor League Baseball franchise was established in 1993, 235 players have ascended from playing in the Summit City to the big leagues.

Tickets to all 66 TinCaps home games can be purchased online at TinCaps.com, by calling 260-482-6400, and at the Parkview Field Ticket Office. The team's promotional schedule includes 28 postgame fireworks nights, celebrity appearances, theme nights, bobbleheads, and more.

Pitchers B/T HT WT DOB Status MLB 40-man

Clark Candiotti 27 R/R 6' 4" 237 9/2/2000 Active No

Luis Germán 29 R/R 6' 2" 160 10/14/2001 Active No

Isaiah Lowe R/R 6' 1" 220 5/7/2003 Active No

Maikel Miralles R/R 5' 11" 160 10/22/2004 Active No

Tyler Morgan R/R 6' 0" 200 11/6/2000 Injured 60-Day No

Braian Salazar 36 L/L 6' 2" 165 6/12/2005 Active No

Will Varmette 8 R/R 6' 2" 195 2/28/2003 Active No

C.J. Widger 28 L/L 6' 6" 170 5/25/1999 Active No

Catchers B/T HT WT DOB Status MLB 40-man

Lamar King Jr. 33 R/R 6' 3" 215 12/7/2003 Active No

Infielders B/T HT WT DOB Status MLB 40-man

Luke Cantwell 10 L/R 6' 0" 200 1/14/2003 Active No

Jack Costello 23 R/R 6' 0" 205 5/17/2001 Active No

Victor Duarte 40 R/R 5' 10" 170 2/23/2001 Active No

Zach Evans 34 R/R 6' 3" 210 7/16/2002 Active No

Jonathan Vastine 16 L/R 5' 11" 174 10/17/2002 Active No

Rosman Verdugo 1 R/R 5' 11" 180 2/2/2005 Active No

Outfielders B/T HT WT DOB Status MLB 40-man

Jake Cunningham R/R 6' 3" 205 7/3/2002 Active No

Kasen Wells 12 L/R 5' 9" 175 8/8/2003 Active No

Coaching Staff

Manager/Coach Position

Jon Mathews Manager

Luis Mendez 3 Bench Coach

Jerry Downs Hitting Coach

Yorman Bazardo Pitching Coach

Check out the Fort Wayne TinCaps Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from March 28, 2026


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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