The Pades are bringing back some old friends in new jobs. Wil Myers has been hired as a special assignment coach in player development while Bud Black will be a senior advisor to baseball operations. Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune was among those to pass the news along.
Myers played in the big leagues from 2013 to 2023. The bulk of that playing career, from 2015 to 2022, was as a Padre. Over those eight seasons in San Diego, he got into 888 games, hitting 134 home runs and stealing 94 bases. His combined line of .254/.330/.451 translated to a 111 wRC+. FanGraphs credited him with 13.6 wins above replacement.
In December of 2024, Myers announced that he had decided to stop playing but would never officially retire. It now appears he has taken a step into his next chapter by taking this gig, dipping his toe into the coaching world.
Black played in the big leagues in the ’80s and ’90s, then pivoted to coaching towards the end of the latter decade. The Padres gave him his first managerial gig in 2007. The Friars were mostly a low-payroll bottom feeder at that stage of their history. He held that gig for more than eight years, with the club posting a 649-713 record in that time. Despite the poor overall record, he won National League Manager of the year in 2010, a season in which the Padres went 90-72 but didn’t make the playoffs. He was fired in June of 2015.
He got another managerial gig with the Rockies beginning in 2017. The team did fairly well initially, making the playoffs in each of his first two seasons in Colorado. But the bottom fell out from there and they have become one of the worst teams in the league more recently. Black was fired in May of 2025.
In October, he mentioned to Bob Nightengale of USA Today that he would love to have another managerial gig but would also be open to staying in the game in some other role. He wasn’t able to secure another skipper job, at least for now, but is staying in baseball via this role with the Padres.
Photo courtesy of Kelley L Cox, Imagn Images
Those are fun hires Bud Black was just in the wrong place at the wrong time with that “team”.
Not a Rockies fan, but I though Buddy did what he could rather well.
I feel like Wil Meyers is still under contract as a player with the Padres.
Or the rumors that Myers is involved in trade talks with the Mariners…
Heh. Black is the worst manager I can remember watching, and I watched him in both SD and Colorado. Just completely stuck in the 1990’s, stubborn as all heck and a fierce player of favorites (always end-of-career veterans). He was useless.
Black is back.
Never made sense to have a “Bud” at Coors.
Wil Myers, one of the last of the no batting glove crew. Good dude.
Haven’t heard that name in like 10 years.
El Gallo is back baby!
I still remember Black pitching for the Royals way back in the early 80’s. Forever ago.
I remember when Bud Black
Pitched for the Giants and their catcher was Steve Decker, and they called that battery Black & Decker and 9 year old me thought that was the wittiest thing ever.
Might be over using the word gig. At least for my tastes.
Yeah time to bust out the thesaurus.
Or perhaps, The Saurus.
Or these auras?
Nice
One time I got real drunk at a party and woke up with a Saurus. I don’t like to think about it too hard.
That’s what she said
Just “one time”?
Mil Wyers
I wanted Wil on the pirates for a couple years. Seemed like he would have fit right in and if he was bad .. who cares lol. Glad he is still in the game.
“The Friars were mostly a low-payroll bottom feeder at that stage of their history” – this article.
Sorry, but it’s just insulting to call a team, or era of a team bottom feeder. Not acceptable writing.
Myers has always been talented, just could t stay healthy. He should be a good add for SD.
wow what a haul! Really hope the stick around in the organization for a long time. Two good dudes who will help for sure.
Hopefully, Myers can stay healthy while on the bench coaching for a full season.
Harry and El Gallo, back in the hizzy! Welcome home gents, and thanks for Patron, Wil!