PEORIA, Ariz. — Luis Campusano’s journey with the San Diego Padres has been marked by highs and lows since his major league debut in 2020. Despite early promise, injuries, fluctuating playing time, and inconsistent performance have made his path anything but smooth. Yet once again, as the 2024 season unfolds, there is cautious optimism that this could be the year Campusano establishes himself as a key contributor behind the plate for the Padres. His growth as both a catcher and a teammate, coupled with the organization’s renewed confidence in him, highlight a pivotal turning point in his career.
Campusano himself acknowledges the pressure but also signals a new mindset.
“If you want to change, you’ve got to change,”
the 27-year-old said.
“It took time. But everyone has their own path. People who know me, I’m glad they can see that a little bit more now, and I’m glad I can share a little bit more of myself.”
Developing Confidence and Team Engagement
Over recent seasons, Campusano has focused not only on refining his skills but also on improving his connection with teammates, an aspect that had long challenged him given his introverted nature. Pitcher Joe Musgrove noted an unmistakable difference this year. “More engagement, for sure,” Musgrove observed.
“I think every player probably experiences it at some point. And I feel like he’s kind of realizing that, like, ‘What I’m doing is not working.’ His effort has always been there, but the engagement and the approach towards knowing your teammates better and being involved in the process of it, I think he’s put a lot more effort in that realm. And just like, in general, his overall wellbeing and mentality seems like it’s in a really good place. Like, he’s happy to be here again. He seems excited to work. He’s always here early, getting something done. Just a lot more engagement.”
Being communicative is crucial for catchers, who must lead the defense and build rapport with pitchers. Historically, Campusano’s quietness often led to misunderstandings and even reluctance from pitchers to throw to him. This had career repercussions, including being sidelined by two former Padres managers for defensive reasons. However, current manager Craig Stammen, a former sinkerball pitcher who once appreciated Campusano’s receiving skills, is intentionally working to nurture his confidence.
“It is intentional, but it’s also truthful, too,”
Stammen said.
“… I like the kid as a person, and I think there’s more in there to come out.”
Career Struggles and Injury Setbacks
Campusano’s initial appearance in the majors was promising; in his debut on September 4, 2020, he homered in his fourth plate appearance. Unfortunately, a wrist injury the following day cut short his rookie season. The subsequent seasons were riddled with challenges including a poor batting start in 2021, an oblique injury that ended his year prematurely, and assessments by then-manager Bob Melvin that he was not yet ready for full-time catching duties. His limited playtime in 2022 included catching 10 of the Padres’ final 34 games, with notable support from Joe Musgrove, who worked closely with him.
In 2023, injuries continued to hamper Campusano’s progress; a thumb ligament tear sidelined him early in the season, and a right ankle sprain in late September ended his year. Despite limited opportunities, he performed well when active, hitting .331 with a strong OPS while sharing catching duties. His 2024 season began with promise — starting as the Padres’ primary catcher and hitting .283 early on — before another thumb injury disrupted his momentum. After returning, his production slowed, and with Elias Díaz signing late in the season, Campusano’s playing time diminished.
His 2025 season saw multiple call-ups without any catching appearances, mainly serving as a designated hitter. Over that span, he went 0-for-21 with six walks and 11 strikeouts, a stark contrast to his Triple-A success. His overall MLB numbers reflect flashes of power, doubling or homering every 14.4 at-bats, but inconsistency has prevented sustained performance.
Reflecting on the Journey and Learning from Adversity
Asked about his long tenure and multiple setbacks, Campusano reflected on the challenges with a grounded perspective.
“I’ve thought about it, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, honestly,”
he said.
“It could be worse. I am just grateful for opportunities. You get beat up a lot, you kind of learn how to just deal with it. It could be a lot worse. The experiences learning that, I think it has helped. I have to be thankful for that.”
He acknowledged that while starting a career early is an ideal, the experiences gained through adversity are invaluable for future success.
“I guess everyone wants the goal of, like, starting their (MLB) careers young and having the (service) time. But it’s not about that either. You’ve got to go through things to help you be better prepared for the future.”
Dominance in Triple-A and Adjustments to the Major League Level
Campusano’s struggles in the majors contrast sharply with his dominance at the Triple-A level. In 2024, he led Triple-A in OPS (1.036), batting average (.336), and on-base percentage (.441), showcasing a return to form. Raul Padron, former Triple-A El Paso hitting coach now on the Padres’ major league staff, highlighted Campusano’s approach to simplifying his mechanics.
“He played with his mechanics a lot in years past, and then last year, he finally decided, ‘I’m just gonna get back to who I was at the beginning of my career,’”
Padron said.
Padron explained the difficulty Campusano faced adjusting to the major league strike zone and pitching, noting,
“He was trying to do something … and then at the end of the at-bat, he was like, ‘You know what? You’ve got to pull that trigger, because it’s different here.’ A big part of it was that. And sitting down for a couple of weeks, it was different. It will get you as a hitter.”
While the Pacific Coast League setting of Triple-A El Paso likely aided his offensive numbers, multiple reports praised Campusano’s attitude and work ethic throughout that season.
“… He fell in love with the game again,”
El Paso manager Pete Zamora remarked.
“There was always a big, gigantic heart there. And sometimes, as we get older in life, trying to figure all that kind of stuff out … his journey brought his heart back. I saw the heart coming back, and I saw the smiles coming back, and it has kind of loosened him up. I mean, what a joy last year. He wasn’t like the team leader, rah-rah guy, but guys rallied around him, and they watched his work ethic.”
Zamora also addressed the perception around Campusano:
“I think, over the years, misunderstood would probably be the term for him. I’ve always loved him because I understood the heart of this kid. … But I see the joy again and the love for teammates and the opening up to teammates.”
Commitment Evident Through Hard Work and Leadership
Despite Triple-A being widely regarded as the toughest professional level, a setback for any player who views himself as a major leaguer, Campusano approached it with professionalism and determination. Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller acknowledged the difficulty of excelling there.
“To go to Triple-A and do what he did there, that’s not easy when you think you’re a big-league player,”
Preller said.
Zamora praised Campusano’s dedication saying,
“He caught all the bullpens. He did all the work. He was there early with Raul. They hit forever. You ask him a question, we have catching meetings, it was the most open I’ve ever seen Campy. He was opening up, offering the insight he has from playing the big leagues.”
New Leadership and Support System Fueling Growth
Back with the Padres, Campusano has been positioned as the backup catcher to Freddie Fermin. The team is investing heavily in his development, surrounding him with familiar mentors and coaches who have supported him throughout his journey, primarily manager Craig Stammen.
“It definitely means a lot,” Campusano said about Stammen.
“We played together, and Craig knows me in and out. He’s taught me a lot, especially calling games and just learning how to learn, how to manage pitchers and understand what they like. It’s good, because he’s someone who understands.”
Kevin Plawecki, the catchers coach who played alongside Campusano in El Paso and served as a catching instructor last season, emphasized their open communication.
“Just having the relationship with him, the trust is there, and we’re able to have open and honest dialogue,”
Plawecki said.
“With anybody, that’s important. But with him, it’s going to be a big year for him. … I’ve seen tremendous growth, tremendous self-awareness. I see a different drive in him. He has gotten older, had experiences. Last year, he had a great year in Triple-A. You know, mentally, this game is brutal. … I think he’s just in a really good headspace. And whatever this year brings, I think he’s got the ability to handle it maybe a little bit better than in the past. It shows in his personality. I think he’s able to be himself.”
Campusano strongly feels that this support eases the burden on him.
“Just having folks around that trust you and that are just gonna have your back takes some pressure off,”
he said.
“It was that way in Triple-A. I’m not saying the standards are any different anywhere else, but you still want to be able to feel confident, comfortable doing what you’re doing.”
Optimism for a Career Turning Point
Padron expressed hope based on his recent observations of Campusano’s batting practice efforts.
“It is insane, to be honest with you, what I saw in Triple-A last year,”
he said.
“… He was believing. He was the guy. Right now I see that guy. … I think we’re gonna see that from him this time, because this guy is in a different spot. He’s mentally more prepared to do his thing. He knows what he needs to do to become that guy. He needs to be social with the pitchers. He needs to create relationships. He needs to do one thing as a hitter that is going to be working for him. Trust what he has, because he’s pretty good at it.”
After years of intermittent success, setbacks, and growing pains, Luis Campusano and the Padres hope that 2024 will mark the beginning of a lasting comeback. With a dedicated support system, renewed confidence, and a clear sense of purpose, Campusano’s perseverance may finally yield the consistent major league impact the organization and fans have long anticipated.
