Padres Hire Craig Stammen as Manager
The San Diego Padres have appointed former relief pitcher Craig Stammen as their 19th full-time manager. This unconventional choice comes from within the organization and surprised much of Major League Baseball.
Background and Contract
Stammen, who pitched for the Padres for six years during a 13-year MLB career, signed a three-year contract to lead the team. He replaces Mike Shildt, who unexpectedly retired last month.
Team Expectations and Challenges
At 41 years old, Stammen takes over a team aiming for its third consecutive playoff appearance. Despite his lack of prior coaching or managerial experience at any level, many are curious about how he will handle the role.
Player Perspectives
“It’s not something you expect out of a reliever. You don’t see many relievers get the job Craig just got. But Craig is one of the most high-integrity people I’ve ever been around. Outside of how good a person he is and how good he is at matching personalities and finding ways to connect to people from different parts of the world, he has got a really good baseball mind as well.” – Joe Musgrove, Padres starting pitcher and former teammate
Musgrove praised Stammen’s integrity, interpersonal skills, and baseball intelligence despite his unconventional path to managing.
Summary: Craig Stammen’s unexpected promotion to Padres manager highlights trust in his character and baseball acumen despite limited coaching experience.