The Padres are going to add a couple of former big leaguers to their coaching staff. Per Dennis Lin of The Athletic, Nick Punto and Robby Hammock are going to be coming aboard, though their specific roles aren’t yet clear. Lin adds that Ryan Barba, the club’s major league field coordinator in 2024, recently left to join the Cardinals in some unspecified role.
Punto, 47, was in the big leagues from 2001 to 2014 as a utility player. He got into 1,163 games for the Phillies, Twins, Cardinals, Red Sox, Dodgers and Athletics. He hit .245/.323/.323 while playing every position on the diamond outside of the battery. He won a World Series ring with the Cards in 2011.
Hammock, also 47, was mostly a catcher but he also dabbled in the four corner spots. He played on-and-off for the Diamondbacks from 2003 to 2011, getting into 182 games. He hit .254/.312/.407 over his 527 plate appearances.
After his playing career ended, he transitioned into coaching with the D’Backs, working for various minor league clubs from 2012 to 2021. He then came to the Padres’ organization, serving as their Triple-A hitting coach in 2022. He then pivoted to the Pirates’ organization, managing the High-A Greensboro club in 2023 and then Double-A Altoona last year.
It’s unclear exactly what roles the two will have, but they will each bring an experienced voice to manager Mike Shildt’s staff. Shildt took over as San Diego’s skipper last year and the club went 93-69 in his first season.
Ok.
I hope that’s first base Punto is sliding into as he was a huge proponent of that nonsense
And jumping into the Dbacks pool!!
I know they have the magic one there in Schildt. Padres are argualbly the second best team in NL
Guess he’s following Bogaerts as the latest Red Sox legend to head to San Diego
Donny O is my favorite of that group.
I’m still upset that NESN fumbled Orsillo. Always fun to hear him when I tune into the occasional Padres game.
Absolute nonsense. It was clearly Orsillo’s fault the ratings were down. Not the fact the Red Sox were atrocious.
Good to see the Padres spending on the coaching staff
A name I never thought I’d hear again. Nick Punto. Now I have to rely on the other name I doubt I’ll hear again. Butch Wynegar.
Especially after Bombo Rivera showed up in the chat the other day.
Can’t believe it’s been over 12 years since the Nick Punto trade.
LNP!
The Shreddar is back
Good for Robby. He always seemed to play the game with joy. He also caught Randy Johnson’s perfect game.
Lookah…anytime you add Puto to a roster or coaching staff you are going places