The Padres have selected the contract of catcher Blake Hunt from Triple-A El Paso, according to a team announcement. Catcher Freddy Fermin is going on the 7-day concussion injured list in the meantime. To clear room for Hunt on the 40-man roster, right-hander Ty Adcock is being designated for assignment.
Fermin was warming up reliever Yuki Matsui for the bottom of the sixth when Matsui spiked a pitch in the dirt. Fermin turned his head and the ball struck him on the left side of his head after the bounce. Rodolfo Durán took over for Fermin behind the plate. Manager Craig Stammen described Fermin’s injury as more severe than that of Xander Bogaerts, as relayed by Annie Heilbrunn of the San Diego Sports Association. Bogaerts was drilled in the head by the Orioles’ Trey Gibson in the top of the fifth and eventually left the game as well.
Stammen added that Fermin has been hit a lot this season, so the team will proceed with caution. Durán will start behind the plate in the meantime, with Hunt serving as his backup. Hunt, 28, will be making his major league debut when he gets into a game. The Padres drafted him in Competitive Balance Round B back in 2017. Hunt stayed in the organization through 2019 before minor league contests were canceled during the COVID season. He was traded to the Rays in the Blake Snell deal and also made stops in the Orioles and Mariners organizations before making his way back to San Diego this year.
Hunt has only made 58 plate appearances this year thanks to an oblique injury which put him on the 60-day injured list through May 17th. He was solid last year, .272/.368/.452 with a 108 wRC+ in 280 plate appearances for the Mariners’ Triple-A affiliate. Hunt showcased decent power in that time, hitting eight home runs and running a .180 isolated slugging percentage, although he also benefited from a .331 average on balls in play.
The Padres now have four catchers on the 40-man roster including Hunt. More than likely, the career minor leaguer is in for a short stint in the Majors. Luis Campusano is currently out with a left big toe fracture. He has not yet started a rehab assignment, although the team’s official injury report has Campusano coming back later this month. He is also out of options. In the long term, if the Padres only want to carry three catchers on the 40-man roster, one option would be to option Fermin and designate Hunt for assignment. In any case, Hunt’s lack of big league experience could make him the odd man out behind Durán, Campusano, and Fermin.
More to come.
