PEORIA, Ariz. — The offseason homes that Freddy Fermin and Salvador Perez keep in Broward County, Fla., are just 15 minutes apart. They train together ahead of spring training. They talk and text often. Anything that the future Hall-of-Famer has to say about Fermin’s readiness as a full-time starter could have been passed along well before the two hugged at home plate in Surprise last month.
“Nothing really changes,” Fermin, speaking through interpreter Jorge Merlos, said of his mentor’s advice. “It’s the same game. You’ve prepared and whatever you’ve learned throughout your career, you know what to do. It’s the same thing. It’s the same game, same baseball that you’re going to go out there and play.
“Just keep doing your thing and you’ll be able to be successful.”
It’s certainly time to find that out.
The 30-year-old Fermin is navigating his first spring training as an unquestioned starter after years as the No. 2 in Kansas City behind the 35-year-old Perez. Fermin had had spurts of starts throughout his stay with the Royals, showing Padres scouts and decision-makers enough to give up two premium assets at last year’s trade deadline— more than 10 years of control of back-end starters in Stephen Kolek and Ryan Bergert — to make him the starting catcher for a playoff push.
It was a show of faith that spurred on Fermin as he packed his bags for San Diego.
“Just grateful that this organization was able to see that in me and that they were watching me,” Fermin said. “But I just come every day like I did in Kansas City, just willing to compete every day, willing to learn from my teammates, really willing to learn from this game as well … and willing to do to the best of my ability to go out there and compete with every guy out there.”
The move seemed to breathe new life into Fermin’s season. His first 10 games in the Padres lineup — where he slashed .364/.400/.485 with a homer and five RBIs — mirrored some of his better stints filling in while Perez was injured, DHing or resting. But overall, Fermin’s numbers in August (.621 OPS) and September (.611 OPS) ultimately came in below his numbers to start the year in Kansas City (.648 OPS).
Fermin even acknowledged the toll it all had taken on him “mentally and physically” as the calendar flipped to the final month of the season.
He’d certainly seen his fair share of playing time over long periods with the Royals — as many as 14 days in a row in 2024 — but learning a new organization and the 18 catchers he handled after the trade deadline is an entirely different kind of chore.
“Our system does have some different elements to it, but it was so impressive,” Padres pitching coach Ruben Niebla said. “The beginning, he would look into the dugout and (be like) ‘Any thoughts?’ trying to get my thoughts on some pitches. And then once we got into September, it was like, ‘I got it.’ (He) really did a nice job just overall learning each guy. And once he did that, it was much easier for him to navigate those games.”
Surprise, AZ – February 21: Freddy Fermin #54 of the San Diego Padres warms up in between innings during a spring training game against the Kansas City Royals on February 21, 2026 in Surprise, AZ. (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Fermin’s days working alongside Perez provided the foundation for what he was about to take on in San Diego. He also leaned on Niebla, bullpen coach Ben Fritz, game planning assistant coach Peter Summerville and even previous starter Elías Díaz. While Fermin wasn’t catching the rehabbing Joe Musgrove, the veteran right-hander was an additional Rosetta Stone for the division, the NL in general and even the psyches of the new pitchers throwing to him.
“He seeks out the information,” Musgrove said. “Like if they get in trouble, are they emotional guys? Do you need to go out and calm them down, or do you need to get on their (butts) and fire them up a little bit? … We heard from all the guys in Kansas City that reached out to me about him coming over about how good of a guy we got. He’s a very engaging teammate. First thing he tells everybody is, ‘I’m here for you.’”
Peoria, AZ – February 23: Freddy Fermin #54 of the San Diego Padres bats during a spring training game against the Milwaukee Brewers on February 23, 2026 in Peoria, AZ. (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
That’s the job.
And it’s one Fermin has always prepared for, even when he knew he’d be second fiddle to one of the Royals’ all-time greats.
As such, Fermin said he didn’t change much to his offseason preparation outside of some weight-lifting tweaks with an eye on endurance as he prepares to sit behind the plate more than ever. He certainly has goals as far as that’s concerned, but Fermin, ever a team-first guy, lumps a lot of that in with what he hopes his new team accomplishes in 2026.
“I think personally, for me, I just want to have really good health all year, and a lot of blessings that will come down on me to have a successful year,” he said. “I think as a group, just really have a positive atmosphere within the clubhouse, like a good atmosphere within all of us, and I wish a lot of good health to my teammates and I hope that positivity continues on.”