The San Diego Padres are on the verge of their first 90-win season since 2010, thanks mainly to general manager A.J. Preller’s bold moves. However, there is room for improvement; the team cannot afford to allow its weaknesses to fester. One major weakness the team must address is Luis Campusano, their underperforming backstop. Once a top prospect in the organization, Campusano has become a liability, and it may be time for San Diego to move on before it is too late.
Padres Should Move On From Luis Campusano
Campusano entered the 2021 season as the Padres’ number three overall prospect. He finally got his chance to be the starting catcher this season after a few years of sporadic major league action since making his debut in 2020. The fanbase and organization had high hopes for the 25-year-old Georgia native, and despite a promising start in 2024, he has failed to live up to his potential. This season, Campusano has slashed .227/.281/.361 with eight home runs and 40 RBI. Moreover, he is coming off a massively disappointing August in which he hit .191/.277/.262 with only one home run and three RBI. Campusano’s rusty performance last month has carried over to the start of September, and he is running out of time to turn things around.
The qualities that once made him a top prospect — bat-to-ball skills, power potential, and defensive ability behind the plate — have yet to translate to the major league level. The Padres hoped that more consistent playing time would help Campusano become a better hitter, but such hopes have not materialized. Even Padres hitting coach Victor Rodríguez has failed to crack the “Campy” code; Campusano adjusted his batting stance after returning from the injured list in June, but such change seemingly could not yield long-term improvement.
Luis Campusano defensive ranks:
Blocks Above Average – 61st
Catcher Framing Runs – 54th
Caught Stealing Above Average – 57th— Padres Data Daily (@PadresDataDaily) September 1, 2024
Furthermore, Campusano’s lackluster defense fails to justify his deficiencies on offense. According to Baseball Savant, Campusano ranks near the bottom among qualified catchers in Blocks Above Average (-10) and Caught Stealing Above Average (-4). He also offers very little in terms of framing ability.
As such, it is hard to find any reasons to keep giving Campusano playing time during the stretch run if he cannot maximize the opportunities he is given.
San Diego’s Options For Catching Trio
After the Padres called up former All-Star Elias Díaz as part of their roster expansion moves, manager Mike Shildt must decide how to handle the catching situation going forward. Shildt has been unsurprisingly coy on the matter, other than hinting that there are several different ways the team could utilize its backstop trio. Kyle Higashioka will almost certainly continue to get most of the playing time behind the plate, and he has earned that right. Ironically, though, Higashioka’s defense is not much better than Campusano’s. He, too, is below average in both Blocks Above Average (-6) and Caught Stealing Above Average (-2). His offensive numbers are similar to Campusano’s, except for Higashioka’s bat showing a little more power, as evidenced by his 16 home runs.
Kyle Higashioka – San Diego Padres (15)
pic.twitter.com/Scv1jP9Nmv— MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) August 24, 2024
Having three catchers gives Shildt more versatility regarding late-game substitutions and pinch hitters. San Diego has an abundance of bench depth, and now the team has a chance to maximize those valuable bench pieces depending on different matchups and game situations. Even so, giving Campusano more starts down the stretch is a bad idea for a team caught in a tight Wild Card race.
Díaz In, Campusano Out
The Padres have an opportunity to vastly improve their production behind the dish, but it starts with replacing Campusano with Díaz. The fact that San Diego was willing to take a flyer on Díaz indicates the team’s frail level of trust in Campusano. Now, the time has come for Díaz to take his place as Higashioka’s backup. Díaz may not be an offensive upgrade over the other two catchers, but he possesses the best defense.
Passed balls and stolen bases have been a big issue for the Padres. Díaz offers an opportunity to improve in both areas. Also, his defensive ability plays very well in October, where every mistake or stolen base carries more weight. As such, there is a chance that Campusano may not be included on the Padres postseason roster. Even if he is, the team should keep him on the bench as much as possible. Whatever the case, the writing is on the wall for Campusano. With top prospect Ethan Salas as the crown jewel of the Padres farm system, the “backstop of the future” mantle has been earned elsewhere. It is time for the Padres to move on from Campusano, and they should do it sooner rather than later.
Photo Credit: © Orlando Ramirez-Imagn Images
