3 Padres searching for a bounce back in 2025

We are now officially less than one month away from San Diego Padres opening day against the Atlanta Braves, and with the start of the 2025 season comes a pivotal year in the careers of three Padres players. Luis Campusano, Jake Cronenworth, and Yuki Matsui are all looking to improve on their 2024 campaigns, and hopefully revamp their careers in a big way.

Luis Campusano

The Padres belief in Campusano seems to never fade, and even after spending time between the minors and majors in 2024, the catcher is still a staple presence behind the dish. Now 26-years-old, Campusano made his debut with the Padres in 2020, but has only appeared in 167 games over the course of four full seasons.

In 49 games during the 2023 season, Campusano was an above average catcher for San Diego, displaying his ability to hit the ball for average and power with an .847 OPS and .319 average. 2024 however saw Campusano's numbers fall enough to get him sent down to Triple-A El Paso, becoming the Padres third catcher in line after the addition of Elias Diaz late into the season.

Obviously a better player than the .642 OPS he compiled over 91 games in 2024, Campusano will be looking for improvement as the Padres backup catcher after Diaz. General Manager AJ Preller said in an interview earlier in spring training that he is expecting big things from Campusano as he reaches his veteran years in the MLB.

Jake Cronenworth

The five year veteran has seen his numbers slide in the past two seasons, and is yet to produce numbers similar to his first three in the league, which saw a runner-up finish for the 2020 National League Rookie of the year and two All-Star selections. Now 31-years-old, Cronenworth is looking for a 2025 campaign that will see improvements in most of his stats at the plate, with his 2024 slash line lower than his career average.

Playing in all but seven games for San Diego in 2024, Cronenworth is a consistent presence in the dugout that the coaching staff can rely on. His ability to play first, second, and short makes him a valuable defensive piece, but his numbers at the plate have been pretty much league average. Signed on a seven-year, $80 million contract that keeps him in San Diego through the 2030 season, the Padres will be looking for Cronenworth to improve his slugging and on base percentage in 2025 as a middle of the order bat.

The good news for Crone is that he is back at his normal position for 2025, taking over at second base after the departure of Ha-Seong Kim moved Xander Bogaerts back to short. Another player looking for improvement, Cronenworth and Bogaerts will make up a middle infield duo renowned for their gloves, but looking to find consistent results at the plate.

Yuki Matsui

Looking at Matsui's numbers in his first year in the MLB, you may be surprised by his inclusion on a list of players needing a step up. Putting up a decent 3.73 ERA over 64 appearances with San Diego in 2024, the 29-year-old from Yokohama, Japan made the transition to the MLB seem relatively easy. Even as a consistent arm coming out of the San Diego bullpen, the Padres will be looking for Matsui to replicate the successes he saw during his 10-year career in Japan.

Preller and the Padres obviously saw something they liked in Matsui when they signed him to a 5-year, $28 million contract before the start of the 2024 season. The deal, which has a player option after the 2026 season, makes Matsui the second highest paid relief pitcher on the roster only behind All-Star closer Robert Suarez. Obviously paying more than the return, Matsui will hope to get back to the quality that saw him put up a very impressive 2.40 ERA and 12 K/9 over 501 games in Japan.

Matsui surely has the tools to do just that. With his expected ERA and opponent batting averages in the top 10% of MLB pitchers, and with chase, whiff, and strikeout rates way above league average, there is no reason why he should not be able to improve.