Mike Shildt, the newly appointed manager of the San Diego Padres, completed the assembly of his coaching staff earlier this month. Shildt, who took over the managerial role in November, succeeded Bob Melvin, who departed to assume the open managerial position with the San Francisco Giants.

In the process of forming his staff, Shildt prioritized continuity as a key factor. This emphasis on continuity led to the promotion of assistant hitting coaches Mike McCoy and Pat O’Sullivan, as well as major league field coordinator Ryan Barba, from the farm system to join the Padres’ MLB staff. Additionally, the Padres have retained other assistant coaches, including pitching coach Ruben Niebla and first base coach David Macias.

The emphasis on continuity aligns with the Padres’ strategy for the future. Despite falling short of the playoffs in the 2023 season, the team concluded the year on a positive note, providing a foundation to build upon for the upcoming 2024 season.

It’s worth noting that Mike Shildt, the Padres’ new manager, is not a newcomer brought in solely to replace Melvin. Shildt had previously been involved with the organization in advisory and interim third-base coach roles before his promotion to manager. Given his pre-existing connection to the organization, it’s logical that he opted to retain key staff members who had demonstrated effectiveness in their roles.

While maintaining continuity, Shildt has also introduced new additions to the coaching staff. One notable hire is hitting coach Victor Rodriguez, who previously coached for the Cleveland Guardians and Boston Red Sox before joining the Padres in December.