The San Diego Padres have officially hired former relief pitcher Craig Stammen as their new manager, signing him to a three-year deal, the team announced Thursday. Stammen, 41, becomes the sixth full-time manager under general manager A.J. Preller.
Preller said in a statement: “Craig has been a strong presence in our organization for nearly a decade. He possesses deep organizational knowledge and brings natural leadership qualities to the manager’s chair. As both a player and in his post-playing career, Craig has displayed an ability to elevate those around him. His strength of character, competitive nature and talent for bringing people together make him the ideal choice to lead the Padres.”
Stammen replaces Mike Shildt, who retired in October after citing the physical and mental toll of managing. His hiring comes as somewhat of a surprise, as names including Padres pitching coach Ruben Niebla, Rangers special assistant Nick Hundley, and future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols were reported as candidates – and Stammen’s name didn’t surface publicly until the deal was finalized.
A native of rural Ohio and a former standout at the University of Dayton, Stammen was drafted by the Washington Nationals in 2005 and made his big-league debut four years later. After mixed results as a starter, he reinvented himself as a reliever and became a key piece of Washington’s bullpen during its first playoff run in 2012.
Across his 13-year major league career, Stammen pitched for the Nationals (2009–2015) and the Padres (2017–2022), posting several strong seasons out of the bullpen. From 2012 to 2013, he recorded a 2.54 ERA in 170 innings with Washington. After missing time due to arm injuries and spending a season out of the majors, Stammen signed with San Diego in 2017 and revitalized his career. Over his first three seasons with the Padres, he logged a 3.06 ERA, establishing himself as a steady and reliable reliever.
Stammen’s playing career ended in 2023 following shoulder injuries, but he quickly transitioned into the Padres’ front office. In 2024, he became a special assistant in player development and worked closely with players at both the major and minor league levels.
Under Stammen, the Padres will look to build on a solid 90–72 season that ended in a disappointing Wild Card loss to the Chicago Cubs. Despite boasting a star-studded roster and an aggressive front office, the club hasn’t advanced beyond the National League Championship Series since 2020.
The Padres will open the 2026 season on March 26 against the Detroit Tigers, with Stammen set to make his managerial debut.
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