Campusano sent down with playing time scarce

SEATTLE -- Even with rosters expanded in September, San Diego’s situation behind home plate was full. On Wednesday, the Padres made a move to deal with it.

Luis Campusano, who spent years preparing for his shot and was finally named the Padres’ starting catcher coming into this season, was optioned to Triple-A El Paso.

“This was a tough decision,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said before the Padres wrapped a two-game series at T-Mobile Park. “Clearly a tough conversation for everyone involved, especially Campy.”

Kyle Higashioka started his third straight game behind the dish on Wednesday, batting ninth. The Padres also have Elias Díaz in their clubhouse, after picking up the 2023 All-Star Game MVP on Aug. 27 after the Rockies released him.

Campusano had a .227 batting average, .642 OPS and eight home runs in 91 games. He has seen his playing time decrease dramatically.

“We just looked up and realized that Campy wasn’t getting as much time,” Shildt said. “Still a younger player who’s grown a ton. He’s really grown a ton behind the plate, a lot of different phases in his game. His preparation is really, really good. But we just decided that it was best for him and us at the moment to go down and go play.”

After Campusano posted a slash line of .331/.375/.500 as San Diego’s primary catcher in the second half of the 2023 season, the Padres gave him the reins to guide the pitching staff in 2024. He rewarded their faith with a red-hot start, playing in 28 of San Diego’s first 33 games and sitting on a .278 batting average with seven doubles and 17 RBIs at the end of April.

But the 25-year-old’s bat went cold in May and didn’t bounce back much in June. He landed on the injured list on June 22 with a left thumb contusion. Higashioka has started the majority of San Diego’s games since.

“Higgy came on and asserted himself, got comfortable with the staff, started getting more time,” Shildt said, “And Campy missed a little bit of time, which created more of an opportunity for Higgy. Which he seized.”

Then the Padres added Díaz to the equation, making the situation even tighter. This year, he is hitting .269 with 19 doubles.

“What we’ve seen across the way and seen more of since he’s been here, continuing to get to know well,” Shildt said of Díaz. “Receive well, game management, take his good, productive, professional at-bats. But really just do what he can to run the staff.”

There’s also been a stark difference defensively. Out of 37 catchers who have logged at least 500 innings behind the plate, Díaz ranks ninth in fielding run value (4). Higashioka is 23rd (-2), while Campusano is second-to-last (-13).

So with the Padres in a tight National League Wild Card race with 16 games left in the regular season, Campusano found himself the odd man out.

“Take advantage of the time behind the plate,” Shildt said, when asked about the organization’s goals for Campusano. “And continue to evolve his game.”