The Padres Re-Hire Bud Black and Wil Myers

Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images

January 14, 2026

The San Diego Padres have hired former club personnel Bud Black and Wil Myers to front office positions, per Dennis Lin of The Athletic.

If the recent Craig Stammen hire wasn’t enough, it’s more than apparent that the Padres enjoy hiring within their organization. This most recent string of hires, announced the same day, are good sign that the Padres’ offseason is progressing smoothly despite a few setbacks that came earlier in the offseason.

Officially speaking, Bud Black was hired as a senior advisor to baseball operations, and Wil Myers will serve as a special assignment coach in player development.

Bud Black And Wil Myers

Bud Black was the Padres manager from 2007 to 2015. With the Padres, he held a 649–713 record, never making the postseason nor finishing above second in the NL West. His best season with the team was in 2010, when they were barely edged out of the playoffs in the final game of the season. They ended the year with 90 wins and 72 losses, and he would go on to win National League Manager of the Year for his efforts. Post-Padres, Black managed the Colorado Rockies from 2017 to 2025 before being cut.

Wil Myers began his career with the Padres in 2015 after a routine offseason blockbuster trade that would move around 11 total players across three separate teams. He played eight total seasons with the club before playing a season with the Cincinnati Reds in 2023 and retiring from baseball in 2024.

As a Padre, Myers slashed .330/.451/.781 across 3415 plate appearances. He was the Padres’ selection for the 2016 All-Star game, which they hosted at Petco Park that year. He was also a part of one of the Padres’ strongest postseason bid’s in 2022.

In San Diego, Myers has become a fan favorite player and the center of many romantic discussions during the initial rebuild of the franchise. Despite ending his career with the Cincinnati Reds, Myers continually reps the Friars and earned the nickname “El Gallo” by fans. Likely in reference to his unique hairstyle after doffing his helmet.

What They Bring to the Table

During Stammen’s speech following his hiring as the Padres coach, he noted that while adjusting to his new role, he was going to rely on the help of his peers. While it was clear he was singling out pitching coach Ruben Niebla, it was also likely that he was referring to everyone around him.

It seems the Padres are attempting to build a staff that follows a clear line of familiarity. It’s an approach likely to build a strong sense of kinship between players and staff, but also allow for mutual understanding. In a way, it also cuts out any need for a grace period. They don’t need to adjust as much as someone just getting into the franchise. They already know the organization well enough.

In addition, Stammen, Black and Myers, outside of their relevant experience, also played for the same team for a number of years. Myers and Stammen, in particular, played around the same time as each other, and both finished their time as a Padre in the same year. Black also coached during Myers’ first year with the team before his exit midway through the 2015 season.

At the very least, these new hires demonstrate a level of understanding the Padres’ front office has of their demographic. Both men command a level of respect from fans and staff alike, thanks to their previous contributions to the team.