The Padres are reaching back into their past to help shape their future, bringing two familiar faces into the fold in new roles. Wil Myers is stepping into a player development role as a special assignment coach, while former manager Bud Black returns to San Diego as a senior advisor to baseball operations.
Let’s start with Myers, who wore the Padres uniform for eight seasons and was a key figure during a transformative stretch for the franchise. From 2015 to 2022, Myers played 888 games with the Friars, hitting 134 home runs and swiping 94 bases.
His slash line of .254/.330/.451 wasn’t just solid-it translated to a 111 wRC+, meaning he was consistently above league average at the plate. FanGraphs credited him with 13.6 wins above replacement during his time in San Diego, underscoring his value as a versatile offensive contributor.
Myers officially stepped away from playing in December 2024, though he stopped short of calling it a retirement. Now, he’s dipping his toes into the coaching waters, bringing nearly a decade of big-league experience-most of it in San Diego-into a developmental role. For a team that’s invested heavily in young talent, having someone like Myers, who knows the grind and the expectations of the Padres clubhouse, could be a huge asset in helping shape the next wave of players.
Then there’s Bud Black, whose connection to the Padres runs even deeper. Black managed the club from 2007 until mid-2015, guiding the team through a stretch where payroll constraints often kept them out of the top-tier free agent market.
His overall record in San Diego-649 wins to 713 losses-might not jump off the page, but context matters. He was at the helm during some lean years, yet still managed to lead the team to a 90-win season in 2010, earning National League Manager of the Year honors in the process-even though the Padres narrowly missed the postseason that year.
After his time in San Diego, Black found a new home in Colorado, managing the Rockies from 2017 until May of 2025. His early tenure in Denver was promising, with playoff appearances in each of his first two seasons.
But the momentum didn’t last, and the Rockies eventually slid into the bottom tier of the league. When he was let go last spring, Black made it clear he wasn’t done with baseball.
While another managerial role didn’t materialize-at least not yet-he’s staying in the game through this advisory position with the Padres.
For San Diego, these hires are more than just nostalgic reunions. They’re calculated moves that bring institutional knowledge, leadership, and credibility into the front office and player development pipeline.
Myers and Black both understand the culture of the Padres organization, and more importantly, they’ve lived through its evolution. Their presence now offers the team a blend of recent clubhouse experience and seasoned managerial perspective-exactly the kind of insight that can help bridge the gap between talent and execution.
It’s a new chapter for both men, but also a sign that the Padres are serious about building a sustainable, winning culture-one that values continuity, experience, and a deep understanding of what it means to wear the brown and gold.