SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Padres have finalized rookie coach Craig Stammen's coaching staff for the upcoming season, retaining Ruben Niebla as pitching coach and hiring Steven Souza Jr. as hitting coach.
The Padres also announced Wednesday that Randy Knorr will serve as Stammen's bench coach.
Niebla was a finalist to replace Mike Shildt, who resigned after his second 90-win season ended in a playoff exit in October. The top job went to Stammen, a former Padres and Washington Nationals pitcher who had never managed at any level but worked for general manager A.J. Preller the last two seasons.
Niebla agreed to return to San Diego, where he has earned significant respect and influence within the club since joining the coaching staff in 2022. Niebla also received the additional title of deputy manager.
Souza, 36, has never been on a major league coaching staff. The outfielder's major league playing career began with Stammen in the Nationals in 2014 and ended in 2022. Victor Rodriguez, the Padres' hitting coach last season, left to take the same position in Houston.
Knorr also worked with Stammen in Washington, where he was a bench coach for managers Davey Johnson and Matt Williams a decade ago.
David Macias will return as the Padres' first base coach and Bob Henley will become the Padres' third base coach after spending the last decade with the Nationals.
Additional returnees from Shildt's staff include bullpen coach Ben Fritz and infield coach Nick Punto.
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