The San Diego Padres Have Filled Their Coaching Vacancies

The San Diego Padres announced that they have filled their three major league coaching vacancies.

Per an official release from the San Diego Padres, the Friars have found replacements for recently departed coaches Mark McGwire and Matt Stairs.

As expected, former El Paso Chihuahuas manager Rod Barajas will begin his sixth season with the organization as Andy Green‘s new bench coach, replacing Mark McGwire who recently left the organization. Barajas was a favorite to be named to the coaching staff, considering his experience with the majority of the current Padres major league roster. The former catcher will also be able to continue working with Austin Hedges, one of the most elite defensive catchers in the game, and Francisco Mejia, the top catching prospect in baseball.

Replacing Matt Stairs as hitting coach will be Johnny Washington. Washington served as the assistant hitting coach last season and, like Barajas, has worked with much of this Padres lineup since his days as the hitting coach for the San Antonio Missions, the former Double-A affiliate of the Padres.

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Washington’s new assistant will be former MLB All-Star infielder, Damion Easley. The 17-year MLB veteran has been with the organization for seven seasons, mainly working in Peoria with players on rehab. Easley will now begin his first role at the major league level, serving as Washington’s assistant coach and working with the infielders. Nate Easley, a son of Damion Easley, is an outfielder in the Padres farm system, playing for the Lake Elsinore Storm in 2018.

These are all very good moves made by the organization, especially the addition of Rod Barajas. A favorite among many Padres players, Barajas can help bridge many gaps with the team and brings a high level of success from the minor league level. The addition of Easley to the major league staff will also be a huge upgrade and, hopefully, help improve the defense in 2019. Up and coming talents such as Luis Urias, Fernando Tatis Jr., and others will be able to learn from an established, well-respected major league veteran who experienced a lot of success over the course of his career.

The Padres also announced that the rest of the major league coaching staff will return in 2019, including pitching coach Darren Balsley, and base coaches Skip Schumaker and Glenn Hoffman.