The San Diego Padres have named Craig Stammen as their 24th manager, a surprise move following Mike Shildt's retirement. Stammen, a former pitcher with no prior coaching experience, retired in 2023 and has served as a special assistant in the organization. The decision aims to maintain continuity after back-to-back 90-win seasons and playoff appearances.
The San Diego Padres stunned the baseball world by hiring Craig Stammen as their next manager, announced on Thursday. Stammen, who wasn't on the reported list of finalists, brings a unique background as a 13-year big league pitcher who joined the Padres in 2017 and became a bullpen leader. He retired during the 2023 season due to a torn right shoulder capsule and transitioned into a special assistant role, working with player development, Minor League pitchers, and front office discussions on Draft and Trade Deadline days.
General Manager A.J. Preller highlighted Stammen's leadership and baseball acumen, recalling his immediate impact upon arrival. "You want this guy in your organization in a leadership role," Preller said. He emphasized Stammen's ability to relate to players, many of whom are former teammates, and his belief in the organization's vision. "The biggest thing you see with Craig is his belief in the Padres’ organization and his belief in our players," Preller added.
The hire promotes continuity for a team coming off consecutive 90-win seasons, the first in franchise history, and back-to-back playoff berths, only the second time achieved. Stammen's familiarity with the roster and processes is seen as a strength, despite his lack of managerial experience. Recent successes like Stephen Vogt in Cleveland provide reassurance for first-time managers.
Padres pitcher Joe Musgrove expressed initial surprise but strong support. "I only heard his name in the last day or two get mentioned, but... I couldn't be more excited. He's going to be a great guy for the job," Musgrove told Marty Caswell. The fanbase is split, with some favoring Albert Pujols for the role.
To mitigate inexperience, the Padres plan to retain pitching coach Ruben Niebla and bullpen coach Ben Fritz, though hitting coach Victor Rodriguez has left for the Astros. With win-now ambitions and potential free agency losses, Stammen faces challenges but enters with organizational backing.