Miguel Andújar’s IL stint clears path for Padres to unleash Luis Campusano

Losing Miguel Andújar hurts the Padres. But they have an obvious way to soften the blow, and it starts with giving Luis Campusano more opportunities. Andújar landed on the 10-day IL after being hit by a pitch from Lucas Erceg during the eighth inning of Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Royals. Tests revealed a small fracture in his right wrist.

The early prognosis offers relief. Andújar will wear a splint rather than a cast, and the Padres hope to have him back sometime in August.

San Diego filled Andújar’s roster spot by recalling catcher Rodolfo Durán from Triple-A El Paso. Replacing a DH with a third catcher looks kind of odd. But Durán’s arrival gives the Padres the freedom to use Campusano more.

Padres can give Luis Campusano at-bats without sacrificing catching depth

Campusano enters July 21 slashing .297/.409/.554 with four home runs in 29 games. He’s been an even tougher out in July, slashing .318/.455/.500.

Yes, it’s a limited sample. And we can point to the injuries that have repeatedly interrupted his season. None of that changes the point. Campusano has hit whenever the Padres have managed to get him onto the field. Down the stretch, his bat belongs in the lineup.

Carrying three catchers makes that easier. Freddy Fermin or Durán can start behind the plate while Campusano slides into the DH spot, with a catcher remaining available on the bench. The Friars can keep their catching insurance without burying one of their most productive hitters simply because he needs a day off his feet from catching.

The arrangement also gives Stammen more freedom late in games. On days Campusano doesn’t start, the Padres can deploy him as a pinch-hitter without spending the roster’s final available catcher.

Andújar’s absence weakens a bench that was hardly overflowing with options. He was hitting .259 with five home runs, 22 RBI and a .726 OPS in 74 games. Those aren’t easily replicable numbers. But Campusano can provide it. His .963 OPS easily clears Andújar’s mark, even if the difference in playing time demands some context.

The Padres have spent years waiting for this kind of production from Campusano. This guy is the El Paso Chihuahuas’ home run king, and now that his offense is finally translating to the majors, the Friars can’t keep treating his bat like a bonus attached to a catcher.

The available DH opportunities provide a cleaner solution. They can keep Campusano’s bat active, reduce some of the wear on his body and allow the Padres to learn whether his hot start represents a genuine step forward.

Andújar’s expected August return puts a clock on this experiment. So does Campusano’s recent abdominal soreness, which prompted the Padres to keep Durán nearby on the taxi squad before the roster move. The third-catcher configuration may last only until San Diego feels comfortable with Campusano’s health or finds another bat before the trade deadline.

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