Padres Finalize Craig Stammen’s 2026 Coaching Staff With Mix of Holdovers and New Hires

The group balances Nationals ties with organizational continuity to support the rookie manager.

Overview

Ruben Niebla returns as pitching coach and adds the title of associate manager.
Randy Knorr is named bench coach after previously working with Stammen in Washington.
Steven Souza Jr. becomes hitting coach in his first major-league coaching role after overlapping with Stammen on the 2014 Nationals.
New position coaches include Bob Henley at third base, Kevin Plawecki for catching, and Ryan Goins for infield.
Returnees from Mike Shildt’s staff include first base coach David Macias, bullpen coach Ben Fritz, and infield coach Nick Punto, while Victor Rodríguez left to be Houston’s hitting coach.