Blake Hunt: Everything you need to know

Hunt is dealing with an oblique injury and has been shut down, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports. Hunt signed a minor-league pact with San Diego in December and has been taking part in the team's big-league camp, though he hasn't seen action in any spring games. The 28-year-old isn't on the team's 40-man roster and wasn't expected to be a serious contender for a spot on the Padres' Opening Day roster even prior to suffering the injury. San Diego added fellow catcher Brendan Durfee to major-league camp to take Hunt's place.

The Padres signed Hunt to a minor-league contract Tuesday. Hunt spent the 2025 season at Triple-A Tacoma in the Mariners organization, slashing .272/.368/.452 with eight home runs in 68 contests. The 27-year-old was up in the big leagues briefly with the Orioles in 2024 but is still looking to make his major-league debut. Hunt was originally selected by the Padres in the second round of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft before being traded to the Rays in the Blake Snell deal.

The Mariners outrighted Hunt to Triple-A Tacoma on Sunday. After being designated for assignment Thursday, Hunt went unclaimed off waivers and will stick around in the Mariners organization as catching depth at the Triple-A level. The 26-year-old backstop has slashed .231/.271/.407 with two home runs over 96 plate appearances in the Pacific Coast League this season.