SAN DIEGO — When Padres general manager A.J. Preller and manager Mike Shildt sat down in October to discuss Shildt’s contract extension, they quickly found common ground on one key priority.
“The contributions our [coaching] staff made were clear, and it was easy to agree on bringing this group back,” Preller said last month.
That goal has now been accomplished. On Friday, the Padres revealed their 2025 coaching staff, which remains largely intact.
Ruben Niebla returns as pitching coach under a multiyear deal finalized last month. Victor Rodriguez will continue as hitting coach, following a historic offensive season for the Padres. Meanwhile, Brian Esposito has been promoted to bench coach after serving as the team’s game strategy assistant last year.
“I’m excited about the continuity of this staff,” Shildt said. “Keeping this group together allows us to grow and take the next steps. The connection between the staff and players is strong, and we’ve built a solid foundation.”
The most notable change is a minor one: Ryan Barba, who served as the Major League field coordinator, will no longer be part of the Major League staff. However, he is expected to remain with the organization in a player development role.
Niebla’s return has been anticipated for weeks. He will be joined by bullpen coach Ben Fritz and game-planning assistant Peter Summerville on the pitching staff. Entering his fourth season as pitching coach, Niebla has overseen significant success, with the Padres reaching the playoffs twice and achieving the lowest rotation ERA in the league in 2023 despite missing the postseason.
“We’re rewarding strong performance,” Preller said in November. “Ruben has been instrumental, and we’re excited for him to continue being a key part of the organization.”
The same commitment applies to Rodriguez, who inherited a challenging role as hitting coach but led an offensive turnaround. In 2024, the Padres tied for fifth in offensive production (111 wRC+), despite playing in pitcher-friendly Petco Park. Rodriguez will again be supported by assistant hitting coaches Pat O’Sullivan and Mike McCoy, as the Padres aim to build on their offensive success.
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