Live Looks: Brady Smith, Kerrington Cross, Tyler Schmitt & Ryan Wideman

The Ontario Tower Buzzers rolled into Lake Elsinore for a six‑game set, and I was in the park for the June 12–13 stretch—two nights that brought one of the California League’s most talent‑heavy rosters into a stadium that rarely gives visiting teams anything for free. Ontario enters with the most name recognition in the league, a lineup stacked with the kind of young stars fans show up early to watch, while the Storm counter with a first‑place club that leads the league in steals and runs wild on the bases every night. With the summer heat settling in and both teams playing with something to prove, the matchup offered a perfect window to evaluate how Ontario’s bats travel, how their arms handle pressure, and how their athleticism plays on the road. Across the two games, the series promised a clear look at who’s trending upward, who’s tightening their game, and which players are beginning to separate themselves as true prospects in a league that never hides flaws.

Brady Smith, P, LAD

3.0 2H 1BB 5K

Brady Smith has steadily emerged as one of the more intriguing long‑term pitching projects in the Dodgers’ system, the kind of lean, athletic right‑hander the organization has historically excelled at developing. Built on a 6-foot‑2, 170‑pound frame that still has plenty of room for strength, clean arm action, natural whip, and the type of athletic sequencing that suggests more velocity is coming as he matures physically. On the mound, His fastball currently sits in the 89–92 mph range and will occasionally top out at 93, but it plays above the raw number thanks to late carry and the downhill angle he creates when his delivery stays connected. The pitch has enough life to miss bats at the top of the zone and enough angle to generate soft contact when he works down.

Smith’s secondary mix is already deeper than most pitchers his age. His slider, thrown in the low‑80s, is his most consistent bat‑missing weapon, showing short, late horizontal movement that tightens when he maintains his release height. The curveball gives him a second distinct breaking ball, a slower, deeper offering in the upper‑70s that he can land early in counts. The changeup is the least developed of the group, but he shows enough feel and arm speed to project it into a usable fourth pitch. The overall mix gives him a legitimate starter’s foundation, and the Dodgers have been deliberate in giving him reps to refine each piece rather than rushing him into a relief role. command remains the biggest variable in Smith’s long‑term outlook.

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He has cut his walk rate to 10.8% this year. When his delivery stays synced, he throws competitive strikes and sequences effectively, leaning on his breaking balls to finish hitters His loose command can causing elevated pitch counts. He repeats well enough in stretches to believe average command is attainable with time and physical maturity. The Dodgers have emphasized direction and tempo, and recent outings have shown more consistent strike‑throwing and better control of his misses. Across 42.2 innings, Smith has struck out 69 hitters, flashing the swing‑and‑miss potential that first put him on the radar. At the same time, the WHIP and walk totals show the developmental work still ahead.

Brady Smith’s latest outing offered a clear snapshot of where he is in his development—flashes of real swing‑and‑miss ability paired with the command inconsistencies that continue to shape his profile. He worked three innings, allowing just two hits and one walk while striking out five on 58 pitches, landing 34 of them for strikes. The line shows progress, but the path to get there told the fuller story.

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Smith opened the first inning by quickly retiring the first two hitters, showing the clean delivery and late movement that allow him to work efficiently when everything is synced. But the inning unraveled when his command wavered. An error allowed Verdugo to reach, followed by a wild pitch that moved the runner into scoring position. He then issued a walk and hit a batter, loading the bases without surrendering a hit. Madden made him pay, lacing a double that cleared the bases and plated three. Smith responded by punching out the next hitter, but the inning highlighted the volatility that still lives in his game one small mechanical drift can snowball into elevated pitch counts and crooked numbers.

The second inning was a sharp contrast. Smith regained his rhythm, striking out three while allowing only a single and a stolen base. His fastball and breaking ball both showed late life, and he worked ahead more consistently, dictating at‑bats rather than reacting to them. The third inning was even cleaner, as he retired the side in order and added another strikeout, looking far more like the composed, efficient version of himself.

With his pitch count climbing, the Dodgers turned to the bullpen rather than sending him out for the fourth. It was the right developmental call Smith had shown enough, both the strengths and the areas still in progress.

In total, the outing mirrored the scouting report: Smith has legitimate swing‑and‑miss stuff and the ability to rack up strikeouts, but he can also lose the zone in bursts, leading to walks, hit batters, wild pitches, and inflated pitch counts. The encouraging part is that he continues to show the resilience and stuff to rebound mid‑outing, and when he finds his rhythm, the bat‑missing ability is undeniable. This start didn’t change the profile it reinforced it, and in many ways, that’s exactly what development looks like for a young, projectable arm. Look at him to vault up Prospect rankings.

Kerrington Cross, 3B, SD

4/9 3R HR 4RBI 1BB

Kerrington Cross has been one of the most explosive breakout bats in San Diego’s system, pairing advanced zone control with real impact contact. His right‑handed swing is compact and efficient, allowing him to get on plane early and stay through the ball with authority. The approach is what elevates the profile Cross consistently works deep counts, rarely expands, and forces pitchers into the zone, where his bat speed and strength take over. Over the last month he’s been one of the hottest hitters in the minors, posting a .323 average with a .467 OBP, .656 slugging, and a 1.123 OPS while piling up eight homers and eight doubles. The combination of a 23.8% strikeout rate and an elite 19.7% walk rate underscores just how advanced his offensive foundation has become.

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Defensively, Cross fits comfortably at third base, where his footwork, hands, and internal clock all project as solid, and his arm strength is more than enough for the position. He moves well enough laterally to stay on the dirt, and the overall athleticism gives him a chance to be at least an average defender as he matures. The question now is how high the bat can carry him, and the recent surge suggests the ceiling may be climbing. With his power showing up consistently, his patience sharpening, and his production holding over a long sample, Cross is positioning himself as one of the most impactful young corner infielders in the Padres’ system—and a legitimate candidate to rise quickly up organizational rankings.

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Kerrington Cross kept his scorching run alive with another multi‑game statement performance. In the opener, he chipped in a single to extend his hit streak, but it was the second game where he once again showed why he’s been one of the hottest bats in the Padres’ system. Cross tallied two more hits, including a two‑run homer launched over the left‑field fence in the first inning, setting the tone immediately. Later, he added a two‑RBI double, giving him four RBI on the day and continuing to pile up impact swings with ease.

It was the kind of day that has defined his recent surge selective aggression, loud contact, and the ability to change a game in multiple trips to the plate. Cross is not just hot; he’s sustaining a level of production and approach that signals a real breakout, with the power, patience, and consistency all trending upward at the same time.

Tyler Schmitt, P, SD

6.0 IP 4H 0R 1BB 11K

Tyler Schmitt is the kind of young, projectable right‑hander who draws attention not because he’s a finished product, but because the raw ingredients hint at something more substantial down the line. He’s lean and athletic with a loose, whippy arm action that allows the ball to jump out of his hand with surprising life. Schmitt shows the makings of a legitimate four‑pitch mix: a fastball with late carry that plays at the top of the zone, a slider that flashes real bite, a curveball with depth, and a developing changeup that occasionally shows the right shape. The flashes are real innings where he overwhelms hitters with movement and sequencing, piling up strikeouts in quick bursts. But like many young arms, the consistency isn’t there yet.

What keeps Schmitt firmly on the developmental radar is how he competes through the volatility. He has outings where an early mistake or command lapse puts him in trouble, yet he finds a way to settle in, regain his rhythm, and finish strong. His most recent start the stuff is good enough to miss bats at any level he’s faced so far, but the command is still a work in progress, and the Padres are giving him the space to grow into it. With added strength, mechanical refinement, and more innings to build repetition, Schmitt has a realistic path to becoming a back‑end starter or a multi‑inning weapon out of the bullpen and flashes of real swing‑and‑miss give him a foundation worth investing in as he matures.

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Tyler Schmitt wasn’t the pitcher I came to the park to see, but by the time he walked off the mound after six innings and eleven strikeouts, he was the only arm that mattered. What began as a routine look at the opposing starter quickly turned into a showcase of Schmitt’s best traits athleticism, poise, and genuine swing‑and‑miss stuff. He filled the zone with confidence, landing 58 of his 90 pitches for strikes, and carved through the lineup with a level of command and sequencing that far exceeded expectations. Schmitt set the tone immediately, opening the first inning with a clean 1‑2‑3 frame and one strikeout, then elevating his dominance in the second by punching out three hitters around a lone single. By the time he repeated the formula in the third three more strikeouts, one double allowed it was clear he had every pitch working and was in complete control of the outing.

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The middle innings only reinforced that impression. Schmitt opened the fourth by erasing Vargas on an aggressive attempt to stretch a single, then struck out Ko and Shelton to end the frame with authority. He breezed through the fifth on just a handful of pitches, another effortless 1‑2‑3 inning that showed how efficiently he could work when ahead in counts. The sixth was the only moment where the Tower Buzzers mounted any resistance, starting the inning with a double and a walk. Lesser young pitchers might have unraveled there, but Schmitt responded with his best sequence of the night bearing down, attacking the zone, and striking out two of the next three hitters to end his outing at eleven strikeouts. It was a complete performance, the kind that forces you to rewrite your evaluation on the spot. Schmitt showed not just stuff, but resilience, pitch ability, and the ability to elevate when challenged. Nights like this don’t happen by accident; they happen when a young arm begins to turn raw ingredients into real, sustainable skill.

Ryan Wideman, P, SD

3/7 4R 3BB 3SB

Ryan Wideman is one of the most physically imposing, tool‑laden outfielders in the lower minors, a long‑levered 6’5” athlete with plus raw power, plus plus speed, and the kind of frame that immediately stands out in pre‑game. His offensive game is built around explosive bat speed and natural strength, giving him the ability to drive the ball with authority to all fields when he’s on time. Wideman’s approach is aggressive sometimes overly so but when he stays within the zone, the contact quality jumps off the page. He’s shown stretches where he looks like a 5-category middle‑of‑the‑order threat, capable of punishing mistakes and impacting the game with both his legs and his bat. The swing‑and‑miss is still part of the profile, but the power‑speed combination is rare, and the underlying athleticism gives him more developmental runway than most long‑levered hitters. At worst, Wideman’s athleticism and tool set give him a clear floor as a high‑energy fourth outfielder the kind who can cover all three spots, impact the game with speed, and run into damage when he catches a mistake. Even if the hit tool never fully stabilizes, the combination of power, speed, and defensive versatility ensures he brings value in a part‑time role. But the ceiling remains much higher if the approach continues to tighten, because few players in the system can match his raw physical upside.

Defensively, Wideman profiles best in center field thanks to his plus speed and long‑striding range, though he has the versatility to slide into a corner if needed. His reads and routes continue to improve, and his arm strength is solid enough to handle all three spots. The real question is how much the hit tool will allow the rest of the package to play. When he controls the zone, he looks like a potential everyday outfielder with impact tools; when he expands, the strikeouts can pile up quickly. Even so, the trajectory is trending upward his recent production, improved swing decisions, and growing confidence all point toward a player beginning to tap into his upside. Wideman remains a high‑variance prospect, but the ceiling is undeniably enticing, and he’s showing more signs of turning raw tools into real performance.

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Ryan Wideman started the first game a little quieter than usual, but even on a “slow” day his athleticism still found ways to impact the game. He picked up a single in the second inning and immediately turned it into pressure, swiping second in a blistering 4.09 seconds for his 40th steal of the year a perfect example of how he refuses to stay on first base for long. He later drew a walk in the sixth, and in the eighth he grounded into a force at second but still beat the return throw to first with ease, flashing the elite speed that continues to separate him from most outfielders at this level. Even when the swing isn’t producing loud contact, Wideman’s legs create value on their own.

The second game was a far more complete showcase of his offensive profile. Wideman reached base four times, collecting two singles and two walks, and added two more stolen bases, pushing his season total to 42. It was the kind of performance that reinforces both his floor and his ceiling: the on‑base ability is improving, the speed remains a true weapon, and his athleticism allows him to manufacture offense even without extra‑base damage. Nights like this remind you why evaluators remain so intrigued Wideman’s tools show up in every phase of the game, and at worst he projects as a dynamic fourth outfielder who can change innings with his legs. At best, if the approach continues to tighten, he has the upside to be much more and now he has been promoted to high A and see if he can have the same success at high A.