Blake Hunt set to finally make his MLB debut with team that drafted him nine years ago
BALTIMORE — Freddy Fermin told the Padres he was feeling better Sunday morning, the day after he took the latest in a series of baseballs to his head.
But there was no talking the team out of putting their primary catcher on the seven-day concussion injured list.
“The decision was kind of made after game that we need to take care of him,” manager Craig Stammen said. “… We had to explain a little bit to him this isn’t about today or tomorrow. It’s about your entire life. We’re trying to take care of him in that way.
” Fermin’s latest blow to the head came when a warmup pitch from Yuki Matsui bounced in the dirt in front of the plate before the start of the bottom of Saturday’s sixth inning. Fermin turned his head, and the ball struck him below his helmet. He had previously taken at least six foul balls off his facemask in games this season. To replace Fermin, the Padres added Blake Hunt to the 40-man roster and activated him Sunday.
When Hunt plays, he will become the second Padres catcher to make his major league debut this season. Rodolfo Durán, who made his 13th start Sunday, was initially called up May 7 when Luis Campusano went on the IL with a fractured toe. The 27-year-old Hunt played for Triple-A El Paso on Saturday night in Round Rock, Texas. He departed the Chihuahuas’ hotel at 3:30 a.m. CT and arrived to Camden Yards mid-morning.
Hunt signed in a minor-league deal this past offseason with the Padres, who drafted him in the second round of the 2017 draft 30 picks after they selected Campusano. Hunt was shut down in spring training due to an oblique strain and made his season debut for El Paso on June 3 and was batting .289 with three home runs and two doubles in 15 games.
This is not Hunt’s first time to be called up and not his first time to be called up in Baltimore. He was activated by the Orioles for one game in July 2024 but did not play and was optioned the same day. He did stay with the big-league club for about a month on the taxi squad.
He departed the organization in December 2020 as part of the trade for Blake Snell and spent three seasons in the Rays’ organization before being traded to Mariners in November 2023. He was traded the following May to the Orioles, designated for assignment by them in January 2025 and subsequently traded back to the Mariners.
Joe Musgrove and Nick Pivetta continued to progress this weekend, with Pivetta playing long toss from 150 feet on Saturday for the first time and Musgrove getting out to 120 feet on Sunday for the second time. There remains no firm timeline, but they could be throwing in the bullpen in a matter of weeks. That would have them on track for a potential August return.
Musgrove, who is coming back from Tommy John surgery and dealing with a cartilage breakdown in his elbow, has not pitched since the 2024 postseason. Pivetta departed his fourth start of the season with what the Padres have termed an elbow flexor strain. Musgrove said Sunday was “a good day, a lot better than the past couple. ”Asked what would constitute something, he said, “Probably when I’m back in the big leagues throwing in a game. ”
Please follow us on Google to support us United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Padres rout Orioles, but lose Xander Bogaerts and Freddy Fermin along the wayStatus of Bogaerts and Fermin, who were both hit in the head by baseballs, not immediately known
Read more »
Padres Lose Xander Bogaerts After HBP in Head, Freddy Fermin to Significant Injury vs OriolesThe San Diego Padres lost Xander Bogaerts and Freddy Fermin to injury on Saturday. Here's the latest update on each player.
Read more »
Mets’ Freddy Peralta hopes mechanical tweak will help him get back on trackPeralta had his worst outing of the season on Tuesday, when he surrendered six earned runs over six innings in a loss to the Cardinals.
Read more »
Padres pregame: Xander Bogaerts in lineup, Freddy Fermin held out for Orioles series finalePadres right-hander Walker Buehler facing Orioles left-hander Trevor Rogers as San Diego seeks first back-to-back wins in weeks
Read more »