Padres Catcher Accomplishes Feat Not Done Since 2000

Maren Angus-Coombs | Apr 5, 2024

Ray Acevedo-USA TODAY Sports

If Kyle Higashioka continues to play like he did on Wednesday, the San Diego Padres might win the trade that sent Juan Soto and Trent Grisham to the New York Yankees.

Higashioka did something no Padres catcher has done before in a 3-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. The feat is so rare that it hasn't been recorded since stats became available in 1974 when specific inning data became available. In one inning, he threw out two runners attempting to steal and hit a home run.

“I just try to do what’s presented to me in the moment,” Higashioka said. “I feel that throwing out the guys is kind of my job. The homer is a bonus.”

What the 33-year-old catcher achieved hadn’t been done by a catcher in the big leagues since June 13, 2000, when Bengie Molina pulled it off in the second inning for the Angels on the road against Tampa Bay.

San Diego manager Mike Shildt has awarded the starting catcher job to breakout star Luis Campusano which puts Higashioka in the backup role but Shildt is still doing whatever it takes to keep the eight-year veteran involved.

“We want to make sure we’re keeping Higgy engaged,” Shildt said. “He’s done a nice job. … Just go out, be ready to receive -- which he does very well. He does a good job behind the plate. He has a good idea how to work with the pitcher -- not only follow the game plan, but also when things don’t go completely right, make adjustments.”

Before he was acquired by San Diego, Higashioka spent his entire career in the New York Yankees organization. He was drafted in the seventh round out of Edison High School in Huntington Beach, Calif., and has adjusted to his new organization gracefully.

“It’s been good, really good,” Higashioka said. “From the front office all the way down to the staff and my teammates, they’ve made it pretty easy to transition to a new ballclub. I think the key is the fact that we’re a team that wants to win, too.

The Padres have appreciated the veteran leadership of Higashioka so far. He has given them a boost at the catcher spot, despite his lack of hitting early on.

“This is not any sort of step down or whatever. We’re trying our best every single day to win. The key is just keeping that intensity every time we go out on the field. In your head, it should never be any different, no matter what team you’re playing for.”