Rodolfo

Duran

With Luis Campusano (toe) hitting the injured list, the Padres had a need for an extra catcher on the big league roster, so Duran will get his shot. The 28-year-old has hit .238/.356/.429 with four homers and 20 RBI in 102 plate appearances at the Triple-A level this season. He’ll share the load behind the plate with Freddy Fermin until Campusano is able to return.

Duran reunites with San Diego after hitting .288/.344/.503 with 16 homers and three steals over 86 games for Triple-A El Paso this past season. The 27-year-old backstop has yet to ascend to the big leagues but might get his shot at some point if he continues to stick around on the doorstep of the majors.

Duran was a free agent after hitting 11 homers and registering an OPS of .790 at the Double-A and Triple-A levels while with the Royals’ organization. The 26-year-old could battle for the backup catching gig, but more than likely will be the guy who handles duties behind the plate for Triple-A El Paso.

Cruz broke through to the big leagues during the 2023 season, posting a 4.97 ERA, 1.74 WHIP and a 15/11 K/BB ratio over 12 2/3 innings in his 10 appearances (four starts). He’ll begin the year as a depth option at Triple-A Omaha, but he should get his chances to pitch under the bright lights in Kansas City.

Durán has yet to ascend to the majors, but he’s spent the last few years in the upper minors as extra catching depth in the Phillies and Yankees systems. The 25-year-old backstop posted a .773 OPS with eight homers and one steal across 240 plate appearances in 62 games this past season for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

The 24-year-old backstop has decided to return to the organization where he spent the 2022 season. He hit just .222/.266/.414 with nine homers and 33 RBI in 53 games at Double-A Somerset during the 2022 campaign. He’ll likely begin the year as depth for the Bombers at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Not a ton of surprises here as the Yankees pare down their spring training roster. Cabrera, Peraza and Florial remain on the Yankees’ 40-man roster and will open the upcoming regular season on the doorstep of the majors.

Durán will add some organizational catching depth for the Yankees after hitting .202/.237/.403 with six home runs across 135 plate appearances between Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley in the Phillies’ minor-league system last year. The 23-year-old projects as potential backup catcher at the big-league level.