Three of the Padres’ four catchers on the 40-man roster are in the majors.
The fourth, Rodolfo Durán, hopes to remain on the big-league radar.
The 28-year-old Durán doubled twice and drove in a run in Triple-A El Paso’s 9-4 loss at Tacoma on Friday.
Durán is hitting .239/.332/.399 with five homers in his second year with El Paso. He hit 16 homers last year with El Paso (.288/.344/.503) but had spent a good chunk of this season in the majors for the first time in his career.
Durán had three homers in 39 games in the majors but was hitting .146/.222/.305 when he was sent back to El Paso.
The Padres had five catchers on the 40-man roster as recently as Monday, when Blake Hunt was designated for assignment. Hunt struck out in three plate appearances in the majors this year and had 11 homers at Triple-A El Paso.
Hunt was released.
Ethan Salas, 20, was promoted to the majors on Sept. 1 to back up both Luis Campusano and Freddy Fermin and provide a left-handed bat for a team that lost Gavin Sheets and Luis Rengifo to injury on the previous road trip.
Third baseman Marcos Castañon (.790 OPS) also doubled twice during a three-hit game and first baseman Nick Pratto (.794 OPS) went 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI.
Right-hander Sean Boyle (10-8, 5.83 ERA) allowed six runs—two earned—on five hits and three walks in 3⅔ innings in the loss.
El Paso is 57-85.
Friday’s scoreboard
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (58-78)
Amarillo 17, Missions 1: RHP Carson Montgomery (0-1, 30.38 ERA) allowed 10 runs—nine earned—on eight hits and three walks in 2 ⅔ innings in his Double-A debut at hitter-friendly Hodgetown. DH Kerrington Cross (.583 OPS) went 1-for-4 with a double. The only other Missions hits were a single each from CF Kai Roberts (.573 OPS) and C Oswaldo Linares (.833 OPS).