Wideman continues breakout, walks it off with oppo taco
Selected in the third round of the 2025 Draft, Ryan Wideman was a strong and fast defender with questions about how his swing would play in professional baseball. After hitting just .229 in 26 games during his debut last year and making some adjustments, Wideman is opening eyes in 2026.
He collected four hits for Single-A Lake Elsinore -- including a walk-off homer -- in an 8-7 win over Ontario on Sunday at The Diamond. It was his third game this year with four hits, raising his batting average to .327. However, June has been another level, with Wideman slashing .390/.479/.659 across 10 games. He has five multi-hit performances in that time.
After Lake Elsinore got down 3-0 early, the Storm rallied for a seven-run fifth inning to take the lead. Ontario answered right back with four in the sixth, setting the table for Wideman’s heroics.
On the very first pitch he saw to lead off the ninth, Wideman skied the ball the opposite way to right-center field. He held the bat straight out as he slowly walked down the first-base line, watching intently to make sure he got it all. Sure enough, the ball carried all the way out, and the Lake Elsinore dugout mobbed an exuberant Wideman at the plate.
The homer was the first walk-off of the 22-year-old center fielder’s young career.
The Padres’ No. 7 prospect, Wideman struck out looking to lead off the bottom of the first inning. It was the only time Ontario retired him in the game.
Wideman went the opposite way for a ground-ball single in the fourth, getting stranded at second base. He then kept the line moving in the fifth, tying the game at three apiece with a bases-loaded double that scored two.
Wideman singled in the sixth as well but was picked off of first base. That was his last trip to the plate before the walk-off. He went 4-for-5 overall with three RBIs and a pair of runs scored. Seven total bases was the second-highest mark of the year for Wideman, who posted 11 bases in a 4-for-6 game with two home runs on April 21.
Wideman sure seems to be breaking out in real time, now holding a season slash line of .327/.394/.527. That includes six homers and 42 stolen bases already in 60 games.