Padres catcher Blake Hunt shut down with oblique strain

The Padres have shut down catcher Blake Hunt with an oblique injury. That leaves San Diego scrambling for catching depth as Spring Training winds down and Opening Day creeps up fast.

This piece takes a look at what Hunt’s setback means for the roster. It digs into how the Padres might adjust behind the plate and what options they’ve got if this injury lingers.

Padres’ Catching Depth Tested by Hunt’s Oblique Injury

Blake Hunt, 27, was a 2017 second-round pick. He’s bounced around with the Rays, Orioles, and Mariners, but found his way back to the Padres after all that.

He reached the majors for the first time in July 2024, though he hasn’t actually played in a big-league game yet. Now he’s dealing with an oblique injury, and nobody’s saying when he’ll be back.

Last season, Hunt played at Triple-A Tacoma and put up a solid line for a late-20s catcher: .272/.368/.452 with a 108 wRC+ in 68 games. He hit eight homers and 15 doubles. After the season, he elected minor-league free agency, then rejoined the Padres on a minor-league deal as a non-roster invitee for Spring Training.

Hunt was supposed to be the main challenger to Luis Campusano for the backup catching job this spring. He looked like a real contender, especially with the team’s veteran depth and the front office liking his versatility behind the plate.

The Padres are facing a bigger problem now. Campusano has a roster spot but is out of minor-league options, and his recent MLB performance has been shaky.

Last year he went 0-for-27 in MLB plate appearances. Right now he’s just 2-for-12 in camp. He’s shown flashes at Triple-A, but the team is watching his plate discipline and consistency as they shape the Opening Day roster.

Freddy Fermin is expected to be the Padres’ primary catcher to open the season. That might give Campusano some breathing room as the backup, but Hunt’s injury puts more pressure on the roster.

If anything else goes wrong behind the plate, things could get dicey. Ethan Salas isn’t expected up anytime soon. The only other catcher in camp with Triple-A experience is Rodolfo Duran.

If Hunt stays out, the Padres may need to move fast to add depth early in the year.

Potential Internal and External Solutions

With Hunt sidelined, the Padres have a few ways to shore up their catching depth as Opening Day gets closer. Here’s what they’re looking at:

• Tom Murphy — He’s a veteran catcher with big-league experience who could cover a reserve role and buy the team some time.
• Christian Vázquez — An established, reliable catcher who brings defense and game-calling, and might even help mentor Campusano.
• Targeting minor-league vets or fringe roster catchers through trades or opt-outs as camp wraps up.
• Checking out external options who pop up on waivers or in free agency, hoping to add a steady backup who can handle a bigger load if needed.

San Diego could also try to snag a catcher who’s blocked at the majors elsewhere but has Triple-A success. Maybe they pull off a trade just in case Campusano stalls out or another injury hits.

The main thing is making sure there’s enough depth behind Freddy Fermin. They don’t want to force Campusano into too much too soon, especially if Hunt’s out or if they want to break in the rookie backup slowly.

Why This Could Shape the Padres’ Season

Hunt’s injury, Campusano’s remaining options, and the team’s early-season plan are all tangled up in the Padres’ lineup decisions. These factors could ripple through both the offense and pitching staff.

If the Padres lock in a steady veteran behind the plate, Campusano might get more breathing room to adjust to major-league pitching. That’s a luxury, honestly—he could use time to get comfortable managing games at this level.

But if the team drags its feet, Campusano may find himself thrown into the fire more often. That could mean a rougher learning curve, especially in big moments.

While the Dodgers and other NL West teams seem to swap catchers with almost mechanical precision, San Diego’s got a different priority. They need a reliable duo that can handle the grind and still fit into the club’s bigger development picture.

Everything now hinges on Hunt’s medical updates. How hard will the Padres chase a veteran or try to swing a deal before Opening Day? That’s anyone’s guess.

The clock’s ticking, and it’s starting to feel like the Padres need to settle on a real plan behind the plate.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Padres’ Blake Hunt Shut Down Due To Oblique Injury