Caratini has taken advantage of his playing time

SAN DIEGO – It will never be remembered as “the trade for Victor Caratini,” but the Puerto Rican catcher has turned out to be a tremendous acquisition for the Padres.

Caratini, a switch hitter, has had more playing time than San Diego’s ninth envisioned when he acquired him from the Cubs along with Yu Darvish in December, and he has excelled, especially in the big moments.

Caratini’s golden homer on Thursday it was, without a doubt, his biggest hit of the season. But it is not the first time that the native of Coamo has shown his face in a pressing situation. Of Caratini’s five home runs, four have broken ties and three have broken ties in the last three innings of a game.

“The at-bats have been good,” Padres manager Jayce Tingler said. “They have been even better in the most pressing moments. They have been opportune at-bats ”.

The Padres would rather Caratini didn’t have as many at-bats. The Puerto Rican is playing more than expected because starting catcher Austin Nola has suffered various injuries. Tingler has talked a lot about how important it is to give Caratini days off.

Caratini was acquired to compete catching with Nola. The idea was for him to be Darvish’s personal catcher (as usual) and get him another game or two in the week. Instead, Caratini has made 50 games behind the plate this season, putting him sixth in the majors in that regard.

Caratini is hitting just .216 / .320 / .358 this season, and his best shot at the plate came when he played less because Nola was healthy and available. But the Padres are satisfied that their eighth hitter is hitting .320 and is hitting some key hits.

That’s especially true if you have the kind of performance Caratini offers behind the plate. The Padres’ pitchers have a 3.12 ERA, the second-best record in the Major Leagues, and Caratini has played a key role in that regard.

“He’s able to slow down the game,” said right-hander Joe Musgrove, who pitched seven scoreless innings Thursday. “Behind the pitcher, he takes things to heart, and gives the impression that he lives and dies with the pitchers’ results. It makes you feel good to know that he is as committed as you are.

“We fully trusted him back there. And then seeing how he’s handled the big at-bats this season has been incredible. “

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