SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Padres have officially announced their coaching staff for the 2024 season under Manager Mike Shildt, introducing a blend of new and returning faces to the team’s strategic leadership.
Leading the pitching department, Ruben Niebla returns for his third season as the Padres’ pitching coach. Niebla has been instrumental in shaping a pitching staff that boasted the second-lowest ERA in the Majors (3.86) in 2023. His guidance helped Blake Snell secure the Padres’ fifth Cy Young Award and assisted both Snell and Josh Hader in achieving All-MLB First Team honors. Niebla, a former Major League staff assistant and Triple-A pitching coach, also contributed to Team Mexico’s Olympic berth in 2019.
Ben Fritz will continue his role as bullpen coach, entering his tenth season with the Padres. Under Fritz’s tutelage, the Padres’ bullpen ranked impressively in several categories in the National League during the 2023 season. Fritz, a former first-round draft pick, transitioned to coaching after a professional playing career that spanned the Athletics and Detroit Tigers organizations.
Tim Leiper joins the Padres as the third base coach and will also oversee infield and base running instruction. Leiper’s coaching experience spans multiple teams and international competition, including stints with the San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays, and Team Canada in the World Baseball Classics.
David Macias returns for his third season as first base coach, focusing on outfield and base running. Macias played a key role in Fernando Tatis Jr.’s Platinum Glove Award win. His coaching background includes time at Vanderbilt University, where he contributed to a National Championship in 2019.
Victor Rodriguez, with a rich history in professional baseball spanning 48 seasons, joins as the hitting coach. Rodriguez’s previous tenure with the Cleveland Guardians and Boston Red Sox has been marked by successful team and individual hitting performances.
Mike McCoy and Pat O’Sullivan are appointed as assistant hitting coaches. McCoy has been with the Padres organization in various coaching roles, while O’Sullivan brings experience from coaching at the Double-A level and playing in the minors and independent leagues.
Brian Esposito takes on the role of catching coach and game strategy assistant. Esposito, with a vast minor league playing and managerial experience, joined the Padres in 2022 and has previously been with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.
Ryan Barba is appointed as the Major League field coordinator. Barba, who joined the Padres in 2022, has a coaching background with the Angels organization and played minor league baseball with the Brewers and Braves.
Peter Summerville, after four years as bullpen catcher/coaching assistant, steps into the role of game planning and coaching assistant.
Heberto Andrade joins as a bullpen catcher and coaching assistant, bringing a wealth of experience from his 18 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates and professional playing career in various international leagues.
Morgan Burkhart, a former Major League player with the Boston Red Sox and Kansas City Royals, continues with the Padres as a Major League coaching assistant, marking his twelfth season with the organization.
This diverse and experienced group of coaches, under the leadership of Manager Mike Shildt, is poised to guide the Padres through the 2024 campaign with a mix of strategic expertise and on-field experience.
