Fermin receives warm ovation in return to the city where it all began

KANSAS CITY -- Homecomings can often tug at the heartstrings, and that’s certainly been the case for catcher Freddy Fermin this weekend.

Fermin has returned to Kauffman Stadium, a place where his early Major League memories were made. Coming up through the Royals’ organization, he made great friends and was a big part of Kansas City’s playoff run in 2024, when the Royals knocked off the Orioles before being taken out by the Yankees in the American League Division Series. Fermin was the backup catcher to Salvador Perez, who took Fermin under his wing and taught him about life in the Majors.

“Special,” Fermin said of his relationship with Perez. “Outside the field, in the field. I learned a lot from him.”

Fermin was activated from the 10-day IL (head contusion) on Friday, just in time to make it back for the Kansas City series. He didn’t play in the opener, but drew the start behind the plate on Saturday and received a nice ovation from the fans. He tipped his batting helmet as he stepped to the plate and was announced in the second inning.

Fermin delivered a “welcome back” blow in the fifth inning, with a leadoff double to left, but the Padres wound up falling to the Royals, 6-1. Still, it’s a weekend that Fermin will long remember after the Padres gave up pitchers Stephen Kolek and Ryan Bergert at the Trade Deadline last year to bring him from Kansas City to San Diego.

“San Diego gave me an opportunity,” he said. “Really nice city, nice people.”

While he cherishes his Kansas City days, Fermin has turned the page and is looking forward to helping the Padres reach the playoffs again this year.

Fermin has taken a beating behind the plate, with foul tip ailments, but he hopes to be both healthy and productive the rest of the season.

“Hopefully, I don’t get more foul balls,” he said. “When the manager needs me, I will be there.”

The Padres had a frustrating day in Fermin’s first game off the injured list. Starter Griffin Canning worked just 3 2/3 innings, allowing five hits and four runs. Meanwhile, the offense had a bevy of opportunities early but couldn’t cash in. A telling sequence came in the fifth, when San Diego, trailing 4-1, loaded the bases with one out after Fermin’s leadoff double.

The Royals went to the bullpen, and Steven Cruz got Manny Machado on a double-play grounder to end the threat. In the sixth, the Padres had men at first and third with one out, but Miguel Andujar bounced into a double play.

That’s just how it went on a day of missed opportunities.

“We definitely had a chance,” manager Craig Stammen said. “Two nights in a row, we’ve hit into three double plays. We had two hitters up that we really like in those spots [on Saturday] and just grounded into double plays. We have to figure out a way to get the ball in the air in those situations.”

And so, other than Fermin’s homecoming reception, the Padres didn’t have much to cheer about on Saturday. They are 0-2 on the current 10-game road trip that will continue on through Atlanta and Miami.

“The offense and pitching [aren’t] coming together,” right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. said. “When one is working, the other is not. So, it’s kind of rough that way.”