The San Diego Padres are making some exciting moves by bringing back two familiar faces to the organization, but in new and intriguing roles. Get ready for a journey into the world of baseball coaching and advisory positions!
First up, we have Wil Myers, a former player who has now stepped into the coaching world as a special assignment coach in player development. Myers, a veteran of the big leagues from 2013 to 2023, spent the majority of his career with the Padres, suiting up for them from 2015 to 2022. During his time in San Diego, he appeared in an impressive 888 games, smashing 134 home runs and stealing 94 bases. His overall batting line of .254/.330/.451 translated to a solid 111 wRC+, and FanGraphs credited him with a remarkable 13.6 wins above replacement. In December 2024, Myers announced his decision to step away from playing, but he's not retiring just yet - he's diving into coaching, a new chapter in his baseball journey.
But here's where it gets controversial... The Padres are also bringing back Bud Black, a former manager with a unique story. Black played in the big leagues during the '80s and '90s and then transitioned into coaching towards the end of his playing career. The Padres gave him his first managerial role in 2007, and he held that position for over eight years. During his tenure, the team had a 649-713 record, but despite the overall record, Black won the National League Manager of the Year award in 2010, a season where the Padres finished with a respectable 90-72 record but just missed out on the playoffs. He was let go in June 2015.
Black then moved on to manage the Rockies, starting in 2017. The team had some initial success, making the playoffs in his first two seasons in Colorado. However, things took a turn, and the Rockies became one of the league's weakest teams more recently. Black was fired in May 2025. In an interview with Bob Nightengale of USA Today in October, Black expressed his desire to manage again but also his openness to staying in the game in other roles. And now, he's found his new role with the Padres as a senior advisor to baseball operations.
So, what do you think about these moves? Are you excited to see these familiar faces back in San Diego, but in new capacities? Do you think these appointments will bring success to the Padres? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below! Feel free to share your opinions and engage in a friendly discussion about these intriguing coaching and advisory appointments.
