Humberto Cruz emerged as one of the Padres’ most intriguing prospects after signing in 2024. (Photo: Jerry Espinoza)
Top Padres pitching prospect Humberto Cruz has been placed on the Restricted List while fellow right-hander Enmanuel Pinales has been put on Administrative Leave on an unrelated legal matter.
Cruz, 19, was officially placed on the restricted list on March 13. He was already expected to miss the entire 2026 season after having repair surgery on his right elbow last September.
Despite the injury setback, Cruz is widely considered one of the top pitching prospects in the Padres system.
The Padres issued the following statement in response to MadFriars’ inquiries.
“Humberto Cruz has been placed on the restricted list. We have no further comment at this time as it is a pending legal matter.”
Players can be placed on the restricted list for violations of the sport’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program or for other legal proceedings. No criminal proceedings or arrests were identified in a records search conducted following the move to take Cruz off the organization’s active roster in advance of the 2026 minor league season. Neither MLB nor the players’ association has announced any league-enforced penalty at this time.
By being placed on the restricted list, Cruz will not receive his minor league salary and is ineligible to participate in activities at the Padres’ complex in Peoria.
Enmanuel Pinales was expected to open the year in San Antonio before a chance in his legal proceedings. (Photo: Rey Holguin)
Pinales, 24, has been facing sexual battery charges in Indiana since last June, related to an incident that happened in Fort Wayne in 2024.
Soon after Allen County prosecutors filed charges, Pinales – who had already been promoted to Double-A San Antonio – was away from the team for about a week. He returned and played out the rest of the season before the case moved forward.
According to public records, Pinales was scheduled to go to trial on March 17, but the trial was postponed to August at a hearing held on February 13. While Pinales had been active during spring training, he was placed on administrative leave rather than assigned to an opening-day roster.
Administrative leave is collectively bargained between Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association. Pinales will continue to draw a salary and amass minor league service time, but has been removed from the Padres’ active minor league roster.
