Even though Fermin had already informed the Padres that he was feeling better, the organization decided to proceed cautiously and put him on the seven-day injured list.
In discussing the choice, Padres manager Craig Stammen stated that the team’s top priority was to care for its player.
“We kind of decided that we need to take care of him after [Saturday’s] game,” Stammen stated. We had to give him a brief explanation that this isn’t about today or tomorrow. It has to do with your whole life. That’s how we’re attempting to care for him.
The Padres’ handling of Fermin was probably influenced by veteran Jake Cronenworth’s persistent concussion problems. After being cleared of his concussion on April 18, Cronenworth began experiencing symptoms a few days later.
The veteran has been sidelined since early May after playing with a concussion for almost three weeks. The Padres should be more cautious in order to prevent this from happening to Fermin.
This season, Fermin has been the Padres’ main catcher, and his significance has increased since Luis Campusano is still out by a toe ailment. With the exception of any unanticipated problems brought on by the concussion, San Diego couldn’t risk losing Fermin for more than a few games.
Fermin had been experiencing a minor breakout this season, thus the timing of this was regrettable. However, Blake Hunt will fill in for him as the Padres’ backup catcher behind Rodolfo Durán. Hunt was called up to take Fermin’s place.
The catcher, who had been with Triple-A El Paso for the previous eight games, had an OPS of.837 and was hitting.269 with one home run and five runs batted in.
Durán, who is still on the team, was crucial to the Padres’ victory over the Orioles in the series. Durán knocked in three runs and went 2-for-4 to help the Padres win the game.
Until Fermin is cleared from concussion protocol, Durán and Hunt will be utilized. The Padres aren’t taking any chances with their catcher, even though this isn’t ideal.
