PEORIA, Ariz. — Catching Responsibilities for 2026
The initial expectation was that Freddy Fermin would handle most of the catching duties for the Padres in 2026. However, new manager Craig Stammen has adjusted those projections, introducing a change in the catching lineup that is anticipated to include Fermin and Luis Campusano at the season’s outset.
Manager’s Approach to Playing Time
Stammen emphasized the importance of preventing burnout for Fermin, suggesting that if Campusano is the backup, he needs to catch frequently. He stated, “To kick off the season effectively, the playing time won’t necessarily be equal, but Campusano is expected to get a lot of playing time.”
Fermin’s Catching Experience
Fermin is expected to assume a primary catching role and potentially start close to 100 games. However, Stammen acknowledges that Fermin, at 30 years old, has never been the primary catcher in his career.
Last Season’s Performance
Last season marked a career high for Fermin, as he started 89 games, including 39 of the final 52 after joining from the Royals. In his previous two seasons as a backup to Salvador Perez, he logged 72 and 54 starts, respectively.
Flexibility in Catching Pairings
Stammen mentioned there isn’t a predefined number of games for each catcher. “Performance will dictate who plays,” he said, while reiterating that Fermin will likely need some rest at the beginning of the season to manage his workload.
Darvish’s Role and Future
This week, Yu Darvish arrived in Japan for Team Japan’s World Baseball Classic preparations. Having undergone elbow surgery in October, he won’t pitch this season but will act as a mentor for the team. Stammen expressed hope that Darvish would also contribute to the Padres in a mentoring capacity going forward.
Spring Training Progress
The Padres will hold their first full-squad workout on Sunday, with all players aiming for the opening-day roster already in camp. While key players like Jake Cronenworth and Fernando Tatis Jr. have been working out, Machado and others involved in the WBC will depart on March 1 and return depending on their team’s performance.
