The San Diego Padres need a hitting coach, and they should bring in someone who commands respect in the clubhouse. 

In true A.J. Preller fashion, the San Diego Padres did the abnormal.

With Albert Pujols and the Padres rumored to be close in negotiations for the Hall-of-Fame infielder to become the next manager, the team pulled a 180 and hired Craig Stammen seemingly out of nowhere. The move shocked the baseball world as Stammen came with no experience coaching on the field, and his name never surfaced anywhere.

Craig Stammen is a people person. While I was credentialed, he was always open to talking and kept himself available to the media. With a beer in his hand, Stammen lingered in the locker room as the media lumbered in after a post-game press conference with the manager. No matter the result of the game, or whether Stammen gave up the winning runs or not, he was there. Front and center. With a smile on his face.

Stammen is an old-school soul in the game. Accountability means a lot for the former 13-year major league veteran. Though he enjoyed over a dozen years in the show, Stammen had to earn his spot seemingly every season. Nothing came easy to him. The respect for his constant grind earned him clout in the Padres dugout. He led the pitching staff. Craig Stammen represented the whole group.

Fast forward to 2026, and Stammen will be asked to hold that same respect, but also improve the win total on the standings sheet.

With no experience in managing, it is difficult to know how the 41-year-old will handle the situation.

One thing is for certain- he needs help.

Ruben Niebla will stay with the team and command the pitching staff. Ben Fritz will also remain as the bullpen coach. With Stammen, Fritz, and Niebla, the Padres will remain one of the best-coached pitching staffs in all of the major leagues. The issue is- you cannot win a game until you score a run. Something that has been an enigma for the Padres.

The offense is capable of production, but more often than not, we’ve witnessed the unit ineptly go through the motions at the plate. And do so for a few games at a time.

Victor Rodriguez looked like a godsend early in his tenure as hitting coach, as the Padres unit put the ball in play more and cut down on the strikeouts. But, with the controlled approach at the plate, some players’ power diminished while others struggled to produce productive at-bats at the plate. In the end, Rodriguez was allowed to leave for Houston, and that will result in yet another change in philosophy for the offense.

Brian Esposito interviewed for the Padres managerial opening, but the bench coach was not hired. It remains to be seen if he will remain with the staff. The Padres may choose to change gears.

As for the hitting coach, the signing will be huge for the future of the franchise.

The San Diego Padres employed well over a dozen hitting coaches in the tenure of A.J. Preller. From Mark McGwire to Victor Rodriguez, none have enjoyed a long-standing job with the team. The constant change in hitting philosophy is troubling. Winning organizations use the same hitting philosophy throughout their minor league system. The Padres do not. It is a free-for-all.

In 2026, the Padres need an offense-minded coach who can work with players. Someone who will command respect. Albert Pujols as manager made sense on so many levels for the franchise. He would’ve commanded instant admiration, and even the most cocky of men would have listened to his input and adjusted. That ship has sailed, though. The Padres went a different direction.

In looking for a hitting coach, expect the Padres to also be unorthodox.

A former player like Manny Ramirez or Gary Sheffield would earn instant respect in the clubhouse. Neither men are linked to the Padres, nor is it even known if they’d be interested in coaching positions. Ramirez did work in the Cubs organization and has shown some mild interest in coaching. The point is, the Padres need to bring in someone who has had some success in the majors. Someone the players would confide in when they are struggling.

The most important thing for the Padres to do is utilize the same approach year after year. End the madness.

The next hitting coach will have his hands full. We shall see in which direction the Padres go with the hiring.

James Clark

James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. James has written about the Padres and their prospects for over a decade. He also writes about San Diego State as well as other local sports. James is the Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.