Freddy Fermin removed after foul balls to the mask in Padres’ loss to Dodgers

In San Diego, Padres catcher Freddy Fermin was forced out of Thursday’s game against the Dodgers in the fifth inning after taking foul balls off his catcher’s mask. The sequence came during live play rather than an equipment malfunction, with the Padres’ dugout and clubhouse responding quickly as Fermin was checked and removed shortly afterward.

Fermin had already spent 10 days on the concussion injured list last month, making this latest masked incident particularly noteworthy for the Padres’ medical staff and for the team’s day-to-day planning behind the plate. According to MLB’s report, Fermin took a couple foul balls to the mask during the game, including a hard foul ball struck by a member of the Dodgers’ lineup in the fifth inning.

After the foul balls, Padres manager Craig Stammen came out to check on Fermin and was joined by a team trainer. The team then promptly removed Fermin from the game. MLB also noted that the Padres did not offer specifics on the nature of the exit at the time of the announcement, leaving the immediate status uncertain.

The Padres’ catching depth could be tested again if Fermin misses additional time. MLB’s report indicated that the likeliest replacement would be Blake Hunt, who was promoted last month when Fermin landed on the injured list, with Hunt and Rodolfo Durán expected to split duties if Fermin cannot return.

San Diego is also managing other injury variables that shape lineup decisions. MLB reported that the Padres placed reliever Jason Adam on the injured list Thursday afternoon before the game, adding to a season in which health has been a recurring challenge. In parallel, the team is still working toward a return for Luis Campusano, whose left big toe fracture has been tracked through a rehab stint with Triple-A El Paso, which began Tuesday.

From a performance standpoint, MLB reported that Fermin has struggled at the plate for much of the season, batting.152 with a.520 OPS. Even before this new masked incident, the Padres’ offensive output behind catcher has mattered, because lineup flexibility often depends on who can stay available day to day in a demanding late-season schedule.

For the Dodgers and Padres, Thursday’s incident also underscores the risk that catchers face on routine foul-ball contact. With Fermin’s status unclear and the Padres already juggling other roster issues, the next few days will determine whether San Diego can keep Hunt and Durán operating with continuity or whether further internal changes become necessary as the bullpen and bench roles adjust.