Luis Campusano begins rehab assignment with Triple-A El Paso

Luis Campusano will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A El Paso later this week, giving the Padres their first in-game test of a catcher they have missed since he fractured his left big toe on May 5. The move comes after more than seven weeks of recovery and Arizona-side rehab, and it gives San Diego a chance to see how quickly Campusano can climb back into the catching mix before the All-Star break.

The timing matters because the Padres have already been forced to reshuffle the position. Freddy Fermin has handled the bulk of the catching duties, while Rodolfo Durán stepped in as the backup after Campusano was placed on the 10-day injured list on May 7. If Campusano comes through El Paso healthy, the Padres could soon have a decision to make about how much of the workload they want to hand back to him.

That decision is shaped by what Campusano was doing before the injury. He entered the season as San Diego’s backup catcher and was off to a strong start, hitting .288 with a .362 on-base percentage and a .958 OPS in 52 at-bats. His major league career line, .244/.300/.691, shows why the organization wants a clear answer on his readiness rather than a rushed return built only on the calendar.

El Paso will provide that answer in live action. The Padres need to see how much catching volume Campusano can handle, how the toe holds up through crouching, blocking and throwing, and whether his receiving stays crisp over multiple games. They also need a read on his game power, because his early-season production suggested a bat capable of doing more than simply covering innings behind the plate.

If the assignment goes smoothly, Campusano could be back with San Diego in early-to-mid July, potentially before the All-Star break. The Padres have also used El Paso as a rehab stop for pitchers such as Matt Waldron and Germán Márquez, reinforcing the affiliate’s role as the place where injured major leaguers prove they are ready for the next step. For Campusano, the next few games in Texas will determine whether he is back in the mix quickly or still a few more steps from Petco Park.