The Padres are facing a critical crossroads with Luis Campusano: is he truly part of their future, or just a name on a roster? General Manager A.J. Preller insists he is, stating that Campusano will “be in our mix next year, for sure,” and hopes his past experiences will benefit him. But here’s where it gets controversial… their actions tell a different story, suggesting a lack of genuine faith in the young catcher.
Campusano, once a highly touted top 100 prospect, has had fleeting opportunities to prove himself since 2020, never exceeding 16 games in a single season. While he didn’t use an option in his late 2020 call-up, he burned two of his three options in the subsequent years, a detail that often goes unnoticed by casual fans. To clarify, a player option allows a team to send a player to the minor leagues without exposing them to waivers (where other teams can claim them). Each player gets three options. Once they are used up, the player can no longer be freely sent down, adding to the urgency of the decision the Padres face.
2023 seemed promising. Campusano spent the entire year with the Padres, albeit with significant time on the injured list. In 49 games, he showcased impressive offensive potential, slashing .319/.356/.491 with a 133 wRC+ (weighted Runs Created Plus, a metric that adjusts for park factors and normalizes to 100, meaning Campusano produced 33% more runs than average). His defensive metrics were subpar, but that offensive output was undeniably exciting. His .331 BABIP (Batting Average on Balls in Play) was elevated, suggesting some luck, but his low 12.1% strikeout rate indicated a knack for putting the ball in play.
However, 2024 brought disappointment. Despite a larger sample size of 91 games, Campusano’s performance regressed significantly. His BABIP plummeted to .240, and it wasn’t just bad luck. His average exit velocity, barrel rate, and hard-hit rate all declined, indicating a genuine dip in offensive prowess. He finished the year with a .227/.281/.361 line and an 83 wRC+. Such offensive numbers might be acceptable for a defensive-minded catcher, but that wasn’t Campusano. He posted a Fielding Run Value of -13 and -17 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS), making him one of the worst defensive catchers in the league. And this is the part most people miss… the Padres’ reliance on defensive metrics heavily influenced their evaluation of Campusano, even though it’s arguable how much importance should be given to defensive stats when the offensive potential is clear.
This dip in performance led to reduced playing time, with Kyle Higashioka and Elias Díaz handling the bulk of the catching duties. The Padres optioned Campusano to Triple-A El Paso on September 11th, a move that seemed strategically timed. A player must spend at least 20 days on optional assignment to burn an option year. With only 19 days remaining in the season when he was sent down, the Padres appeared determined to use that final option.
Heading into 2025, Campusano had one option remaining, and the Padres seemed intent on using it. They re-signed Díaz and added Martín Maldonado, further crowding the catching position. Campusano began the year in Triple-A. What followed was a series of perplexing moves. He was recalled in early May due to injuries (though not to any catchers), only to be optioned back down three days later. He was recalled again in late May, spent three weeks with the team, but appeared in only six games (14 plate appearances) before being sent back down in mid-June. Another brief recall occurred in July when Gavin Sheets went on paternity leave.
Leading up to the trade deadline, the Padres acquired Freddy Fermin from the Royals. Maldonado was designated for assignment (later re-signed to a minor league deal), leaving Fermin and Díaz as the primary catchers. Late in September, with Díaz potentially injured, Campusano was recalled for the Wild Card series against the Cubs. However, Maldonado was also added to the roster, creating a three-catcher situation, with Fermin ultimately receiving all the playing time.
Throughout all this, Campusano was tearing up Triple-A pitching. While a high .370 BABIP contributed to his success, his 15.2% walk rate and 17.3% strikeout rate were excellent. He hit 25 home runs in 475 plate appearances. Even considering the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League environment, his .336/.441/.595 slash line translated to a 148 wRC+.
Despite these impressive numbers, the Padres largely kept him in El Paso, rarely giving him opportunities in the majors, and not even trying him behind the plate. They continued to rely on Díaz, Fermin, and Maldonado, despite their offensive struggles. Maldonado, in particular, has been a consistently weak hitter throughout his career.
With both Díaz and Maldonado entering free agency after the 2025 season (Maldonado subsequently retiring), Fermin and Campusano are the only catchers currently on the 40-man roster. Ethan Salas, a highly regarded prospect, is only 19 years old and has limited experience above High-A ball. While he represents the future, a major league promotion in 2026 would be aggressive.
Campusano is now 27 years old and out of options, meaning he can no longer be easily sent to the minors. He qualified for arbitration as a Super Two player last year, earning $1 million in 2025. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projects a similar salary for 2026. The non-tender deadline looms, forcing the Padres to decide whether to offer him a contract.
The Padres’ actions in 2025 clearly indicated a lack of trust in Campusano as a major league catcher. They consistently opted for veteran options, despite their offensive limitations. While they seemingly hoped to develop him as a long-term catcher by playing him at that position (and some first base) in Triple-A, the sporadic call-ups with minimal playing time disrupted his development. If their intention was to maximize his defensive improvement, those recalls seem counterproductive.
Here’s a controversial question: Were the Padres right to prioritize veteran experience over the potential upside of Campusano? Some might argue that veteran leadership is crucial for a winning team, while others would say that the Padres squandered an opportunity to develop a potentially impactful player.
If Campusano remains with the Padres in 2026, will he be relegated to a backup catcher role? If he’s envisioned as a first base/DH option, the team would likely need to acquire a veteran catcher, creating an inefficient roster construction. Veteran catchers, even those with limited upside, come with a price tag. Díaz, for instance, received a $3.5 million guarantee last offseason, a significant amount for a team with payroll constraints.
There’s a strong argument to be made for trading Campusano. Rebuilding teams lacking a clear solution at catcher, such as the Nationals or Twins, might be willing to take a chance on him, giving him consistent playing time to assess his potential. However, they’re unlikely to offer significant value for what they might perceive as a risky investment.
The Padres could offer Campusano a contract and then attempt to pass him through waivers. With at least three years of service time, he has the right to reject an outright assignment in favor of free agency. However, with less than five years of service, he would forfeit his remaining salary commitment to exercise that right. If tendered a contract worth approximately $1 million in 2026, he would likely accept, allowing the Padres to retain him as non-roster depth. However, given his track record, there’s no guarantee he would clear waivers.
Ultimately, the Padres need to choose a direction. If Preller’s words are to be believed, they’ve already made their decision. With a limited budget and uncertainties in the pitching rotation, they might stick with Campusano and find a role for him. However, their actions this past season, where they didn’t trust him to catch despite needing upgrades at the position, don’t inspire confidence. Even when recalled, he received limited at-bats, casting doubt on his potential as a bat-first bench player, especially considering teams generally prefer defensive versatility from their reserves.
If he gets squeezed off the roster, he’ll likely be traded, placed on waivers, or simply non-tendered. Should he leave San Diego, he would become an intriguing change-of-scenery candidate. Perhaps the coming days will bring clarity to his situation. What do you think the Padres should do with Campusano? Should they give him a real chance to prove himself, trade him for whatever they can get, or simply cut ties? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!