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The Padres just lately shut down catcher Blake Hunt as a result of an indirect damage, as reported by Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Hunt’s actual timeline for return to motion isn’t presently identified, however he figures to be sidelined for the foreseeable future.
The 27-year-old was a second-round choose by the Padres again in 2017 however was traded to the Rays as a part of the Blake Snell deal whereas he was nonetheless in A-ball. Within the years since then, Hunt has bounced between the Rays, Orioles, and Mariners organizations. He was known as as much as the majors for the primary time in July of 2024 however has by no means made an look within the large leagues. In 2025, he carried out fairly effectively for the Mariners’ Triple-A affiliate in Tacoma, slashing .272/.368/.452 (108 wRC+) with eight homers and 15 doubles in simply 68 video games. Following the 2025 season, Hunt elected minor league free company and returned to the group that drafted him on a minor league pact.
Coming into Spring Coaching, Hunt was a non-roster invitee who appeared more likely to function Luis Campusano‘s major competitors in camp this 12 months. Hunt has lengthy been on the periphery of the majors at this level and is maybe overdue for a shot on the highest degree, and whereas the out-of-options Campusano entered Spring Coaching with the benefit of getting a 40-man roster spot already, it could’ve been comprehensible for him to face some strain head of Opening Day. The 27-year-old appeared in simply ten video games on the large league degree final 12 months and went hitless in these 27 plate appearances. Whereas he did handle to hit a particularly spectacular .336/.451/.595 (149 wRC+) at Triple-A final 12 months, he’s a profession 88 wRC+ hitter within the majors with lackluster defensive marks behind the plate and has slashed simply .211/.276/.336 (75 wRC+) with -0.8 fWAR and -1.1 bWAR when simply the final two years.
That lack of manufacturing makes it arduous to belief Campusano headed into 2026, and his 2-for-12 exhibiting throughout camp to this point hasn’t precisely set the world on hearth. Freddy Fermin figures to function San Diego’s major catcher coming into the 12 months, however Hunt’s damage may wind up giving Campusano extra of a leash because the crew’s major backup. Ethan Salas doesn’t determine to be prepared for the majors anytime quickly, and the one different catcher in camp in the intervening time with expertise even at Triple-A is 28-year-old Rodolfo Duran. If Hunt’s damage is extreme sufficient to sideline him long-term, it’s believable that the Padres may look so as to add some exterior catching depth to offer additional insurance coverage behind their present tandem. Veterans Tom Murphy and Christian Vazquez are nonetheless accessible in free company, but it surely’s additionally potential that veterans on minor league offers in different camps may choose out as Opening Day approaches or that catching depth on the fringes of one other group’s roster may very well be made accessible in a minor commerce if the Padres have been sufficiently motivated to get a deal achieved.
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