Is Luis Campusano the answer for the San Diego Padres at the catcher position?
The 2025 season is around the corner, but the San Diego Padres are still trying to fill some holes on the roster.
It is well known that the Padres are in search of a left fielder and have no real viable option at the DH position. Some would argue the team is also in need of a starting pitcher for the 2025 season.
Then, there is the catcher position.
Kyle Higashioka agreed to a contract a few weeks ago with the Texas Rangers. A.J. Preller stated that the team made a competitive offer to retain the backstop, but he signed for more money to play in Texas for the next two seasons. That leaves the Padres with only two catchers on the 40-man roster- Luis Campusano and Brett Sullivan.
Sullivan is a converted infielder and made his debut with the Padres in 2024. He is, at best, an option as a backup. There just isn’t much upside.
Campusano was heralded as the catcher of the future before the 2024 season. He ended the year in the minors but did not even make the playoff roster, as the Padres chose to put Elias Diaz on the roster. Diaz never even played in the playoffs, as the Padres relied upon Higashioka heavily. Campusano was not even a consideration.
The right-handed hitting Campusano is a free swinger and a plus bat. There is developing power, and we’ve seen signs of life in his swing. But it will take more than that to stick in the majors.
His defense has always been an issue. It got better at some point, but there are still problems behind the dish that will likely never improve. Pitchers just don’t seem to like throwing to the catcher. The Padres are getting that sense. And the writing was on the wall in the 2024 playoffs. There are even reports that the team is dangling Campusano this winter to assess his trade value.
