These words do not match the club’s actions as they have not shown much faith in him. Campusano was in the top 100 prospects a few years ago. He was given cups of coffee from 2020 to 2022 and was unable to surpass sixteen games played in any of those seasons. He was drafted at the end of 2020 and didn’t exercise an option that year, but burned two of his three options in subsequent seasons.
In 2023, he spent the entire year with the big league club, but spent a lot of time on the injured list. He was only healthy enough to play in 49 games, but posted a huge .319/.356/.491 line and 133 wRC+ in that sample. His defensive qualities weren’t great, but that attack was certainly enticing. His batting average of .331 on balls in play was on the high side, but he also had a small strikeout rate of 12.1%, meaning he put the ball in play a lot.
However, the following season was a disappointment. He played 91 games, his greatest achievement in the big league to date. His ball-striking luck turned the other way, while his BABIP dropped to .240. That wasn’t just luck, as his average exit velocity, barrel rate and hard-hit percentage all dropped compared to the previous season. He finished the year with a .227/.281/.361 line and 83 wRC+. That kind of foul would have been fair for a first-glove backstop, but Campusano wasn’t. He had a fielding run value of minus-13 and was also credited with minus-17 Defensive Runs Saved, making him one of the worst defensive catchers in the Majors that year.
That performance understandably led to a reduction in playing time, but he remained on the roster for a while Kyle Higashioka And Elias Diaz took care of the catching work. The Padres selected Campusano from the minors on September 11, which apparently wasn’t a coincidence. A player does not burn an option year unless he spends at least 20 days on an optional assignment. When the brothers sent Campusano home last year, there were still 19 days left on the schedule.
That left Campusano with one option left for 2025 and they seemed determined to use it. They re-signed Díaz and signed as well Martin Maldonado to be the catchers at the big league level. Campusano was optioned to the minors to start the year.
Apparently the plan was for Campusano to hone his craft with Triple-A El Paso, but the Padres also made some curious decisions in that context. He was recalled in early May because the Padres suffered some injuries, not to any of their catchers, but he was optioned back three days later. He was recalled again in late May and was with the club for three weeks, but played only six games with fourteen at-bats before being optioned again in mid-June. In July he was recalled again for a few days Gavin Sheets went on the paternity list and was put back a few days later.
Before the deadline, the Padres acquired Freddy Fermin of the Royal. Maldonado was designated for assignment, leaving the Friars with Fermin and Díaz for the long term. They re-signed Maldonado to a minor league deal in late August. In late September, Díaz appeared to suffer an oblique injury and was excluded from the club’s Wild Card roster. Campusano was called up, but the club also selected Maldonado back to the roster, giving them three backstops for their series against the Cubs. Fermin got all the playing time behind the plate in that series.
All of this happened while Campusano was crushing Triple-A pitching in 2025. He was helped by a .370 BABIP, but his 15.2% walk rate and 17.3% strikeout rate were both great numbers. He hit 25 home runs in 475 at bats. Even in the context of the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, his .336/.441/.595 line translated to a 148 wRC+.
Despite those monstrous numbers, the Padres mostly kept him in El Paso. When they called him, he barely played. They haven’t put him behind the plate at any point in the major leagues this year. They continued to roll with Díaz, Fermin and Maldonado, despite none of the three guys hitting. Maldonado has been one of the worst hitters in the Majors for much of his career.
Both Díaz and Maldonado reached free agency at the end of the 2025 season, with Maldonado announcing his retirement shortly afterwards. That leaves Fermin and Campusano as the two catchers on the 40-man roster. Ethan Salas is one of the club’s top players, but he’s only 19 years old and has barely played above High-A. He may be the future, but a promotion in 2026 would be ambitious.
Now 27 years old, Campusano is out of options, meaning he can’t easily be sent to El Paso again. He even qualified for arbitration as a Super Two player a year ago, so the Friars paid him $1 million in 2025. Since he barely played in the Majors this year, MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz expects him to make the same salary in 2026. Friday is the non-tender deadline, giving the Padres a few more days to decide whether or not to re-sign him.
The Padres clearly had no confidence in Campusano being a big league catcher in 2025. They didn’t put him back there at any point and instead opted for light-hitting veterans. Presumably they were still hoping to make him a long-term catcher, since that’s where they played him in Triple-A, along with some time at first base. However, they also interrupted his Triple-A routine with sporadic call-ups with little playing time. If they were determined to have him maximize his glove work in 2025, those recalls stand out as odd choices.
If Campusano survives the winter and joins the Padres in camp in 2026, will he be the backup catcher? If he’s going to be more in the first base/DH mix, they would probably have to add a veteran backstop, which isn’t the ideal roster construction. Plus, even veterans without much benefit cost a few million. For example, they had to give Díaz a $3.5 million guarantee last season. That’s not much in baseball terms, but it’s notable for a club with ongoing payroll concerns.
There is an argument for trading Campusano. A club under construction without a clear solution behind the plate, such as the Nationals or Twins, could take him on. One of those clubs could give Campusano some run at the catcher position to see what happens. However, they are not likely to give up much for such a kite.
The Padres could offer Campusano a contract and then put him through waivers. Since he has been employed for at least three years, he has the right to decline outright assignments in favor of free agency. However, since he has been employed for less than five years, he would have to waive his remaining salary obligations to exercise that right. In the scenario where he’s offered a contract and will make around $1 million in 2026, he would presumably accept it, allowing the Padres to keep him as non-roster depth. However, given his track record and the three remaining years he has in control of the club, there is no guarantee that he will be released.
Put it all together and the Padres should seemingly choose a lane. If you take Preller at his word, they already have. With a tight budget and rotation question marks, perhaps they will stick with Campusano and find a role for him. But they just came off a season where they didn’t trust him to catch him, despite clearly needing upgrades there. Even when he was drafted, he didn’t get many at-bats. That doesn’t bode well for him as a primary bench player, especially since teams typically prefer to get a bit of defensive versatility from their reserves.
If he’s pushed off the roster, he’s destined for the trade block, the waiver wire, or maybe he just doesn’t get tendered later this week. If he eventually leaves San Diego, he will be an interesting candidate for a change of scenery. There may be clarity about his status in the coming days.
Photo courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images
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