Welcome to our series grading every member of the San Diego Padres’ 40-man roster. The roster being evaluated is current as of Oct. 18, prior to the end of the World Series. Because of that, it will include players who will be free agents once the postseason concludes. Each player will be graded on their performance in the 2026 season, including the playoffs. That performance will be weighted based on how much time the player spent with the team (availability is the best ability).
The Defense-Only Backstop
When Freddy Fermin
came over from the Kansas City Royals, it was presumed that he would become an offensive upgrade behind the dish. The Friars paid an arm and a leg in the form of starters Stephen Kolek and Ryan Bergert in order to acquire Fermin’s services. He was a step up from the tandem of Elías Díaz and Martín Maldonado, but Fermin has yet to prove himself in his own right.
Overall Grade: D+
The problem is his absolute black hole of a bat. Fermin’s offense was solid for a primary catcher in 2025 (.251/.297/.339), but it took an immense step back in 2026. His bat became borderline anemic, with a .203 batting average and .589 OPS. There was a brief moment where Fermin raked. He homered in three consecutive games in early June. Beyond that stint, Fermin struggled.
However, the backstop flourished behind the plate. When Fermin was traded for, there was a prevailing worry about whether he would be able to manage the pitching staff halfway through the season. Fermin was stellar down the stretch in 2025, drawing rave reviews from every Padres pitcher. He had one of the best mentors available, with Salvador Perez as the primary catcher in Kansas City. Clearly, Fermin picked something up from the potential Hall-of-Famer.
Fermin’s biggest advantage was his top-tier defense. He was named a finalist for the Gold Glove Award alongside Joe Mack and Luis Torrens. He’s unlikely to win the award but his defensive metrics are phenomenal. Among NL catchers, Fermin ranked seventh in pop time (1.88 seconds), third in Fielding Run Value (+9) and second in Blocks Above Average (+10) and Caught Stealing Above Average (+6). Fermin’s only struggle was with ABS challenges (-0.7 Runs Above Average). However good his defense is, it’s not enough to make up for his incredibly poor offense.
