Monday, Feb. 4, 2019

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) -- Hard to believe, but it's almost time for baseball players to report for spring training.

We have a handful of local guys prepping for another year on the diamond -- that list includes Luis Campusano.

He's coming off his first full season of pro ball with the Padres Organization -- in what he describes as a character-building year.

Besides the level of competition, one of the biggest differences between high school baseball and the pros, is the length of the season.

It's a grind, you go from practices in February to finishing up play in September. That can take a toll on your body and mind.

But he's learned you've got to keep a positive attitude.

"You try to have a positive mindset. Not letting anything in the past or the day before get to you your next day. Just keeping that same mindset. Just be ready to prepare yourself for today," Campusano said.

Campusano has all the tools to become a top catcher.

He's quick, has a strong arm and plenty of athleticism. But he's still learning the ropes.

Campusano is fairly new to this position, as he made the switch to catcher late in his high school career. He continues to work on perfecting the skills that will make him that'll make him stand out.

"I think it's going smooth. There's obviously a lot that I need to work on. The most important thing is just investing time with the pitchers. Just building relationships with them. If you can do that, I think that the game calling and being on the same page with the pitchers may be a little easy," Campusano said.

Campusano says his biggest hope for the season is to remain healthy -- he reports to Arizona next week.