Padres gradually trusting Luis Campusano behind the dish
The Friars’ catcher has made the necessary changes to become a solid defensive receiver.
San Diego Padres catcher Luis Campusano and closer Mason Miller after defeating the Seattle Mariners 5-2 at Petco Park on April 16, 2026, in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images The San Diego Padres’ offense has been very potent to begin the 2026 season.
One of the early contributors has been Luis Campusano. He is off to a hot start because Campusano finally feels free from the pressure of fulfilling others’ expectations It has allowed him to play carefree baseball. Stammen’s belief never wavered Padres skipper Craig Stammen put trust in his game.
It began in Spring Training, when the manager proclaimed that Campy was the team’s backup catcher, despite the pleas for a more reliable option. The support for the one-time top minor league prospect came as a surprise. It was not too long ago when the front office thought Campy was a defensive liability.
They felt he regressed in framing pitches, blocking balls in the dirt, and throwing out would-be base-stealers. When Campusano started, he lasted five or six innings before a defensive replacement was put into the game. It was obvious there was no trust that he could navigate a pitching staff to a victory.