The San Diego Padres unveiled Mike Shildt as their new manager on Tuesday. Shildt will step in for Bob Melvin, who left the franchise last month to manage the San Francisco Giants.
Shildt signed a two-year deal with the Padres. It will be his second time leading an MLB team, having previously served as a manager of the St. Louis Cardinals between 2018 and 2021.
Shildt has been largely successful during his time with the Cardinals, leading the team to three playoff appearances and one NL Central title. He was named the NL Manager of the Year in 2019 after finishing the season with a 91-71 record.
Despite his success with the Cardinals, Shildt was fired after the 2021 campaign. At the time, the Cardinals’ president, John Mozeliak, said the move was made due to “philosophical differences.”
“I’m really grateful for a second act,” Shildt said during his introductory conference. “Not everybody gets it. You take for granted there are only 30 of these jobs. I promise you I won’t take this one for granted. I’m excited about our team.”
Shildt is well-familiar with the Padres, having been with the franchise in an advisory capacity this season. He has also stepped into a coaching role on several occasions due to medical issues and other emergencies that the Padres’ coaching staff dealt with.
The Padres are coming off a disappointing campaign that saw them finish with an 82-80 record and miss out on the postseason despite having one of the biggest payrolls in baseball. The organization now hopes that Shildt can turn things around and get the star-studded roster playing to its capabilities.
