The San Diego Padres are gearing up for an exciting season, banking on right-hander Mason Miller to step up as their new lockdown closer. With Robert Suarez now with the Atlanta Braves, Miller’s role becomes even more crucial.
Fresh off their second consecutive 90-win season and another playoff berth, the Padres are hungry for their first World Series championship. However, they'll be navigating this journey without their former manager, Mike Shildt.
In a surprising turn, Shildt retired after the Padres' loss to the Chicago Cubs in the National League Wild Card Series and has since joined the Baltimore Orioles in a developmental role. This opens the door for former Padres pitcher Craig Stammen to potentially take the managerial reins.
The offseason saw some significant departures for San Diego, including ace right-hander Dylan Cease to the Toronto Blue Jays and closer Robert Suarez to the Braves. Despite these changes, the Padres' roster remains largely intact, thanks in no small part to Mason Miller.
Miller, a right-handed flamethrower who dazzled for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, is poised to fill the void left by Suarez. Last season, he was a standout setup man for San Diego, with only three save opportunities across 22 games. Now, he gets his shot to be the go-to guy in the ninth inning.
If Miller replicates his 2025 performance over a full season-where he posted a jaw-dropping 0.77 ERA and a 0.73 WHIP with a 45-to-10 strikeout-to-walk ratio-he could very well be in the running for NL Reliever of the Year and possibly the saves leader for 2026.
In a poll of 57 MLB.com staff members, Miller was predicted to be the runner-up in saves, just behind Los Angeles Dodgers closer Edwin Diaz. As Manny Randhawa noted, “Miller is simply overpowering.”
With a four-seam fastball averaging 101.2 mph and a devastating slider, he held opponents to a minuscule .139 batting average in 2025. Striking out 44.4% of the batters he faced, his dominance on the mound often seemed, quite simply, unfair.
Miller's electric arm and wicked slider make him a thrilling player to watch, and the Padres paid a hefty price to acquire him from the Athletics. But with his potential to be a dominant reliever for years to come, it’s a price well worth paying.
As the Padres look forward to another promising season, much of their success will hinge on Miller’s shoulders, along with the continued brilliance of Tatis. The big question remains: Can they hit that 90-win mark again with a thinner starting rotation? Time will tell, but with Miller in the bullpen, they're certainly in a strong position to compete.