Gustavo Campero’s Road to the Outfield and Beyond

May 7, 2024 – Southern League (SL)
Rocket City Trash Pandas News Release

On a Rocket City team filled with returning players, one catcher-turned-outfielder flew under the radar as the season began.

Gustavo Campero had played in eight games for the Trash Pandas across the 2022-2023 seasons, now he’s blossomed into an every-day player with an increased role.

Part of that came from working to master a new position.

After starting his professional career as a catcher, Campero had seen some time in the outfield but approached the organization to make a change.

“I’m an athlete, I can run and jump, but catcher is only one position,” Campero said. “I talked with the organization about giving me the opportunity to play another position and they asked what I can do, I said I can catch a fly ball and run the outfield.”

It’s the first season of Campero’s professional career where he has yet to play behind the plate, instead starting at both corner outfield positions during the season.

That knowledge of what it takes to play a catcher helps Campero out in a different aspect of the game.

The Trash Pandas have worked to be more aggressive on the basepaths this season, with Campero leading the way.

Campero is second on the team with 11 stolen bases playing a big role in the Trash Pandas 53 stolen bases as a collective group. Rocket City is second at the Double-A level in stolen bases, just three behind first-place Mississippi.

The 26-year old outfielder said it was the team’s goal at the start of the season to take advantage of their speed.

“We set out a standard as a team,” Campero said. “We’ve got a speedy team and that’s made it more difficult for the pitcher and catcher to call the game.”

Campero made waves across the Angels organization with a strong 2023 season with High-A Tri-City, hitting .337 with 12 home runs and 41 RBI to go along with 20 stolen bases.

That was good enough to end the season with Rocket City. The key to that success for Campero is how he prepares for each day.

“Preparation is the main thing for me,” Campero said. “Every day, every season I’m just trying to be ready, turn a fresh page and be ready to go.”

Although Trash Pandas fans are seeing Campero on a consistent basis for the first time, everything they are seeing in the Lorica, Colombia native are things that Trash Pandas manager Andy Schatzley and the rest of the coaching staff were more than used to.

“The passion and the work ethic matches the ability,” Schatzley said. “What fans have seen…