Talented & Motivated — Blake Hunt ready for opportunity with Padres

USA Today Sports

Hungry for an opportunity, catcher Blake Hunt is poised to be a contributor in 2026 for the San Diego Padres.

The game of baseball mirrors life in many ways, and sometimes it comes full circle.

Blake Hunt signed with the San Diego Padres last November to a minor league deal.

The former second-round pick in 2017 by the Padres was traded in December of 2020 to the Tampa Rays in a prospect haul for left-handed pitcher Blake Snell. He spent time with the Rays, Baltimore Orioles, and Seattle Mariners organizations, grinding his way all the way to the Triple-A level. While with the Orioles, Hunt spent a few weeks with the major league team. He was active for one game but did not play. It was maddening for the young backstop, but he takes it all in stride.

Now, with the Padres, Hunt is hoping to reach his goal — regular major league service time.

The right-handed hitter displays plenty of power, but struggles with his swing from time to time. Thankfully, for Hunt, his glove is superb. Pitchers love to throw to the young backstop, and his defensive abilities are easily worthy of major league service time. The Padres value his defensive game, but also understand that there is potential in the 6-foot-4 catcher when it comes to the bat. He is getting better.

In San Diego, the Padres are hoping to reap the benefits of this 27-year-old catcher.

 

Signing with the Padres made sense

Hunt sat down and talked with EVT this past week. It has been a full-circle moment for him, and he is certainly grateful to be back in the Padres organization. This winter, several clubs expressed interest in the catcher.

“I got interest from six to eight clubs. All of which were winning ball clubs,” Hunt told EVT. We spoke about some of the franchises, and they all had one thing in common — a winning track record.  (Phillies, Braves, Yankees, Rangers, Padres)

It came down to the Padres and a team on the east coast. “They both made phone calls daily to check in,” Hunt said.

“I was relieved that the Padres were one of them for many reasons. Comfort for one. The location is close to home for spring training. It just made sense.”

San Diego has always felt like home to Hunt, and the Padres were in search of depth at the position.

“I was very lucky and fortunate going through the free-agent process when I did,” Hunt said. “To my understanding, the free agent catching depth wasn’t incredibly deep (around the league).”

Padres

Playing for the Padres and suiting up at Petco Park was something that Hunt said he has always envisioned. Since being drafted, he imagined playing for the Padres. It appears that it will happen for the California native, and it is a blessing.

The trade in 2020 out of the Padres organization was tough for Hunt. We spoke about that time. “I would reflect back on that and confidently say that I was not in the place mentally that I am now. It took quite a few seasons in Tampa’s minor league system before I was able to re-arrange who I was as a player,” Hunt said. “I was able to figure out the mental side of the game. With that being said, being emotionally immature at the time, that trade certainly rocked me to the core. My identity was being a Padre, and I had so many friends in the organization. I was 20 or 21 at the time.”

The catcher pulls no punches when discussing the past. He is well aware that path led him to who he is today. There are no regrets. Yes, Hunt suffered with the mental aspect of the game. Most young players do. This is not a rare thing. Rationalizing it and self-awareness while you are still playing is certainly rare. That is just how Blake Hunt is. He is cerebral and knows the game. Blake Hunt is a baseball lifer. He will be in this game for a long time.

Hunt is content with being a Padre. He talks about comfort and expresses that this opportunity was the right fit for him.

“How cool would my story be, going around the league and my stars not aligning, to come back to San Diego (where I consider to be my homegrown team) and find regular major league playing time would be very surreal to my family and me,” Hunt said with great emotion.

The Padres and Hunt have always had this flirtation with one another. Even after Hunt was traded, the Padres kept an eye on him from a distance. A.J. Preller and Hunt are both transparent individuals. They speak from the heart. They get along well, and it comes as no surprise that the Padres signed Hunt.

“The organization has treated me with nothing but respect over the years,” he said. “I have a deep affinity for this team. The Peoria Sports Complex is legitimately a second home for me. This is a place I can be comfortable in. Walk into the clubhouse and be in my own skin and work to achieve my goals.”

 

Credit: Lookout Landing

Time with the Seattle Mariners organization (again)

Blake Hunt spent two different tenures with the Seattle Mariners. He was traded to the Mariners from the Rays in November of 2023. He was then claimed by the team after the 2024 season, after a brief stint in the Orioles organization. Seattle knew the value of the catcher. He just wasn’t a fit. It happens.

The Mariners loved him, though. If not for arguably the best catcher in the league (Cal Raleigh) and a veteran backup (Mitch Garver), he would’ve debuted with them and played with the Mariners in 2025. It didn’t happen for Hunt, but he holds no animosity toward the organization.

“I had an affinity for Seattle as soon as I got traded there from Tampa,” Hunt told EVT.

Getting a different perspective was helpful for Hunt, who enjoyed his time with the Mariners.

During the 2025 season, Hunt was blocked by Garver and Raleigh at the major league level. His hope, in the spring, was that Garver would be used as a DH/1B bat, and he could break in at the major league level. That did not happen, and Hunt spent the year in the minors. While there, he mentored young catcher Harry Ford, who was one of the Mariners’ most prized young prospects.

Instead of pouting or being upset, Blake Hunt spent a lot of the 2025 season with Ford and mentored him. “Harry Ford is legitimately one of the best people I have met in baseball,” Hunt said.

“I have nothing but good things to say about him. Being around him, I wasn’t salty by any means. I wanted the best for him. His intention is for the greater good. It always will be.”

Hunt knows his role, and at that point, it was to mentor a young catcher and help groom him.

Though Hunt spent no time on the major league roster with the Mariners, he picked the brains of the major leaguers in camp during the spring. His quest was to gain information on what would make him better.

“One thing being around both Cal and Mitch in Seattle is how level-headed they are. At the end of the day, that is what you are looking for from the catcher position. Someone who is even-keeled and can ride out the highs and the lows of the game,” Hunt said.

Even though the playing time wasn’t there, he still put in the work in rounding out his game.

Ford was traded from the Mariners, and that opened the door for more playing time for Hunt in 2025 at the Triple-A level. He took advantage of it.

” I put up a .900 OPS and hit over .300, and when Harry got traded, they bumped me up to significant playing time. All I knew is I needed to take advantage of every at-bat I got,” Hunt said.

He finished the 2025 season hitting well for the Mariners. His offensive profile was on the rise, and it was more than playing in the PCL. Hunt started to really understand his swing.

“At that point, I knew I was setting myself up for free agency or trying to get the Mariners to put me back on their roster. These opportunities that come up can be beneficial if you look at them the right way,” Hunt said

He started to grow as a catcher and, most importantly, as a hitter as Seattle helped unlock some of his potential with the bat. To start the 2024 season, he recorded a .905 OPS in the first 25 games. That torrid start got Hunt traded to the Orioles, where he continued his growth in the game.

 

Thankful for the experience with Baltimore, but left unfulfilled 

Moonlight Graham is a character from the movie Field of Dreams. Most think that it is a fictional character, but his stats are real. The right fielder played in one game during the 1905 season. No at-bat. Just one game played. Graham played three additional years in the minors but never made it back to the majors. I mentioned the name to Hunt when we discussed his time with the Orioles, and he chuckled. Most do not realize that Blake Hunt spent over three weeks with the Orioles’ major league team without receiving any playing time. He was active for one game, and that was it.

The reality is Hunt has yet to debut in the majors, though he has an unusual amount of experience. We spoke about this fact and how it must have driven him crazy to be so close to his dream, only to have it go by without really accomplishing his goal.

“I got called up with Baltimore (in 2024) and spent about a month with the club. Not playing and not debuting can leave you a little salty,” Hunt said.

But salty is not what you get from this young right-handed hitter. He refuses to be angry about the situation and only throws compliments toward the Orioles for the experience.

MLB

The young catcher spent less than one day as an active major league player. He was activated and optioned on the same day. He dressed, took batting practice, and his name was in the lineup card.

“I arrived because of an injury, as James McCann was hit in the face. I was there. Active. In cleats. I was told if the game got out of hand or if Adley (Rutschman) got hurt, I was in there. It happened so fast that it didn’t necessarily feel real. I didn’t have a moment to freak out about it. It happened so fast,” Hunt recalls.

That moment was great, but surely there would be more opportunities.

Hunt stayed with the team after the game. Because of the injury to McCann, the Orioles kept him around just in case.

“After the game (he was active), the Orioles were concerned with Adley, who had some back issues, and, of course, McCann had broken orbital bones,” Hunt said. “Because they were both banged up, I ended up staying with the club through the homestand, on a 10-game road trip, and then back home on a minor homestand before a trip to New York. I was with the club for three and a half weeks.” He lived the life of a major leaguer but longed to get on the field.

“I didn’t play but soaked up everything I could,” Hunt said. “I talked to Craig Kimbrel and Zach Eflin. Bonafide studs. It was a good experience.”

On the taxi squad, Hunt was nursing a minor abductor injury. The limited playing time allowed him to heal while getting a taste of major league life. It was a great experience for the catcher.

“I was able to get comfortable in a big-league dugout. I got comfortable with game prep in the midst of a playoff hunt for Baltimore at that time and was around some bonified all-stars. Getting that experience and feeling comfortable was great,” Hunt said.

His pay increased while with the Orioles, so that was great for the catcher. He also spoke to players who are succeeding in the game at his very position.

“Being around Adley and McCann was a blessing. Being in on game strategy meetings for the pitchers. These were all pluses. It was difficult because I was there (on a taxi squad) to be seen and not heard. That is not necessarily what they told me, but I used common sense. I am not playing tonight and cannot take up cage time from someone else,” Hunt said.

His explanation of what he deems “common sense” is what makes Hunt special. He just gets it. You don’t need to explain it to him.

His experience may have been good in Baltimore, but it left Hunt unfulfilled. He still had goals, and deep down, he knew he was able to play at the highest level of professional baseball. He just needed a chance. Surely, he would get that chance.

 

Credit: MiLB

When opportunity knocks, you answer the door

The honesty in Hunt was glaring as we discussed his early years in the system and his first couple of seasons in Tampa’s minor league system.  “My perspective on opportunity comes down to what I was given,” Hunt starts off the topic by saying. He was open as we went forward, discussing opportunity in the game.

“I would pretty much have a good year and a bad year for the first six or seven years of my (minor league) career. I understand that I was drafted high and was traded for a Cy Young award winner. Because of that, I was given an opportunity with both Tampa and San Diego that others weren’t and was given the majority of the playing time. First team reps on a weekly basis. In those years, I was doing good enough, but I wasn’t blowing anyone away. I understood that guys who were backing me up at certain affiliates were also doing well, but because of the price tag attached to their name, they just weren’t given the same opportunity. I felt a certain level of guilt for that,” Hunt said.

This is not an uncommon thing. Baseball players are treated as investments. If you invest more into a player, they will naturally get more chances to work through slumps or bad seasons. On the other hand, organizational filler needs to establish itself early to make a mark in the league, or they are quickly forgotten and replaced.

“I have grown in the game enough now to understand that opportunity comes for everyone, and you have to take advantage of it in the moment,” Hunt said.

He is right. There is no guilt anymore. Hunt knows he had a chance. The cards didn’t fall right, but he is thankful for future opportunities and what he has in 2026 with the Padres. He will not let any opportunity pass him by.

His mental side has sharpened, and with that, the bat is progressing. The 27-year-old is excited for a chance with his drafted team. Hunt is well aware that the Padres have struggled to find a consistent force behind the plate. “There is a competition for the catching role, and a lot of turnover for the Padres over the years. I don’t go into this spring expecting anything. I understand that whatever is going to come is going to be earned. If decisions are made and I end up in El Paso, I can only control today. Nothing is guaranteed in this game. All I can do is put my best foot forward,” Hunt said in a serious tone.

His obvious goal is to break camp with the team. His defensive game is a plus as Hunt works well with pitchers and is blessed with a tremendous throwing arm. He is a student of the game and loves his job. Pitchers pick up on that about him. The art of catching is slowly dying, but Hunt brings an old school feel for the game. He is progressive in his receiving skills, and major league pitchers will feel confident in throwing to him.

 

Defensive skills are solid, but still progressing 

Hunt is known for his glove work, but if you ask him, there is room for improvement.

He gives credit to two former Padres coaches in his progressive style behind the dish.

“The transactional nature of the position is different now (than 2018 or so). Bigger guys were being put down on a knee. Framing was changing. Glove prep down was to the ground and not keeping a level target present for the pitcher. These were all things that were changing. With Ryley Westman and Brian Whatley, who were with San Diego prior to being with Cleveland. Those two guys gave me the freedom to get into these new stances, so I was kind of at the forefront. Because of that, I was getting away with a lot of defensive moves. As the rest of the league has caught up, my defensive numbers have leveled out a bit,” said.

We continued to discuss the topic as he explained where he views the improvement can take place.

“In 2024 and 2025, I saw minor setbacks in my defensive metrics. Maybe not something you may notice with the eye. But metrically, I became more league average receiving-wise,” Hunt said.

His blocking is still steadily above league average, but there were minor statistical downgrades.

Hunt held excellent caught stealing numbers early in his career but has come down to earth recently. We talked about the running game and how it has changed.

“With the pitch clock and amount of pickoff attempts, I have not translated my control of the running game properly. I have not thrown out runners at a clip that I need to,” Hunt said.

He will fix this. The fact that he is aware and willing to do the work is what makes teammates love him.

There is no doubt that Hunt has the proper skills to be a catcher in the major leagues. Soon, he will be given that opportunity, but there is still much work to do if you ask the backstop. His focus is on improving his glove work this spring in Peoria.

“These are some of the focuses and intents we are heading into spring training with. I am trying to get back to what makes me elite behind the plate,’ Hunt said.

Catching is far more than analytical numbers. You have to manage several personalities to get results. Pitchers are different. Some can be eccentric. Perhaps a catcher’s ability to manage pitchers effectively is what makes them excellent managers at the professional level. Hunt will go way beyond for his staff. He loves the game and the bonding of the team.

 

Credit: Seattle Times

Putting in effort outside the ballpark

We spoke about managing personalities and getting results out of them. In this day and age of the game, there are players from around the world on your roster when you get to the professional level. You may literally have a pitching staff with three or four different languages on a roster. Catching that kind of group must be difficult.

“How you counteract those different personalities behind the plate is by being as steady as you can behind the plate. Making sure that each guy wants to throw to you and is comfortable executing a certain pitch in a certain count when you are calling it,” Hunt said.

He learned from major leaguers that being steady behind the plate is the best thing you can do for your pitching staff.

The ultimate goal of playing is winning it all. To end your season with a win. Only one team does it. Everyone else ends their baseball season with a loss. In order to gain an advantage over another team, chemistry is huge. Hunt understands that fact, and that is why pitchers enjoy throwing to him. He makes sure that comfort level is present.

“At the end of the day, the only way you are going to navigate around different personalities on a team is truly by your intent. In the clubhouse. At the airport. In the hotel. In the clubhouse. These are all avenues for you to build relationships with guys. Trust is the ultimate outcome. As long as that guy trusts you, that is all that really matters,” Hunt said.

Hunt is not bilingual by any stretch of the imagination. He does understand some Spanish and can speak a little, too. Over the years, he has had plenty of opportunities to work on his Spanish with his teammates.

“I would tell them to run out pitchers meeting in Spanish. (Speak Spanish) In the dugout, when I am not playing, I am trying to pick things up. It’s the effort. I am trying.” Hunt said.

It really is all about the effort. Nobody expects perfection from him, but he is trying, and that goes a long way for these men playing in a whole new country.

Hunt may be tough on himself when it comes to the glove. He expects perfection and will not settle for less. That is just in his nature.

“On a positive note, in the years that I have slowly declined defensively, my offense has started to progress. In my head, knowing what I am already capable of defensively and what I am becoming offensively, on a steadier basis, I can turn into a guy on both sides of the ball who can impact the game,” Hunt said.

The Padres are hoping for that fact.

There will be an opportunity for Hunt this spring. He is excited. “I know that when I put these things together, I have the chance to be a real impact at the big-league level,” Hunt said. His bat is improving, and that is exciting. As he matures and reaches the major league level, things will slow down for him in the batter’s box. He is already showing signs of great comfort.

 

Offensive game on the rise

His mental approach and getting his pitch to hit are Hunt’s focus right now. It took some time, but he is fluid with his swing and is showing an improved eye at the plate. There is a confidence in Hunt right now that this author has not witnessed before. A calmness to his demeanor. It is though he can finally feel the benefits are coming from all his hard work. It will take more luck and execution on his part, but the promised land is close.

We discussed his swing and if he was working on anything special as spring approaches.

“Some mechanical changes have been implemented over the last three or four seasons. Craig Wallenbrock and Joe DeMarco are two guys that I credit with that. I am growing as a player and truly learning what my strengths are and understanding what my weaknesses are. I am not trying to change too much in an effort to fix the weaknesses, if I am giving up too much of my strengths. A lot of that is tied into approach and picking spots. Knowing how guys are going to attack me,” Hunt said.

As a catcher, he is well aware of how to attack hitters.

Interestingly, Hunt has over 2,200 plate appearances at the professional level. He’s spent eight years in the minors. The right-handed hitter has seen a lot in the game. His swing is becoming a thing of comfort, and he credits his repetitive motion for the future improvements in his swing.

“It comes down to the 10,000-hour rule. Once you practice something for so long, at that point you begin to perfect some aspects of it. That is just hitting at this point for me. I will continue to grow and change, though,” Hunt said.

The Padres will surely make minor adjustments to his swing if needed this spring. Hunt has already spoken to a few coaches as they got to know the new catcher.

“I have had some preliminary conversations with Mike McCoy and Pat O’Sullivan. Guys who coached me in the minors with the Padres,” Hunt said.

The Padres know that if he hits, he will play. The power is present, but can Hunt continue to recognize his pitch and take advantage of it? We already know that it is his focus.

 

2026 season

The San Diego Padres are once again chasing the Dodgers, who reloaded this winter. San Diego is not capable of investing like Los Angeles, so they will need luck. Players signed this off-season to minor league deals must step up. Hunt is one of those men. He could very easily make a mark similar to what Gavin Sheets did in 2025 for the Padres.

Craig Stammen is the new manager of the Padres. Hunt has experience with the former pitcher, as Hunt caught Stammen in Peoria during the 2019 and 2020 spring seasons. No real conversations, as Hunt knew his place and just did his job.

“I caught of few of his bullpens back when I was an unknown minor leaguer. He was very kind. He is a client of my agency, so that is some sort of familiarity with him,” Hunt said of Stammen.

The two will surely bond as the first-year manager learns his new catcher.

The coaching staff brings excellent pitching minds together, as Stammen and pitching coach Ruben Niebla are highly respected in the industry. Hunt is excited to learn from each man as he further advances his craft.

“I am just trying to be like a sponge around these guys. I understand these guys have been in the game for a long time; they are going to have more wisdom and share some facets of the game in a light that I don’t necessarily see at that point in time,” Hunt said.

Niebla is someone whom Hunt “hopes to learn from for years to come.”

A.J. Preller and Hunt have a special relationship. They have history.

“He is a wild card, and you never know what he is going to do next,” Hunt said about Preller.

The admiration between baseball-educated people is well-known. Preller surely senses that Hunt will be in this game for a long time. Even after his playing career is over, the passion for the sport is worn on the sleeves of these men. Their bond is real.

“(In 2020, when he was traded) I told him (Preller) I had these deeply rooted feelings about the Padres organization,” Hunt said. “If free agency comes around, this is the first place I am signing. He said he would sign that check right now. In my mind, I had major league free agency in mind, but minor league free agency works too,” Hunt said with a laugh.

James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. James has written about the Padres and their prospects for over a decade. He also writes about San Diego State as well as other local sports. James is the Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.

Continue Reading