ESPN full season review proves Padres left more on the table in 2025

ESPN has released its full 2025 regular-season grades ahead of the MLB postseason. What grade did the San Diego Padres earn?

They got a B. A solid score. Some what call it an above-average score. It was the highest grade in the NL West, which ESPN apparently believes underperformed as a while. The Dodgers got a C+, while San Francisco and Arizona earned C's.

"The Padres are back in the playoffs for the second season in a row -- only the second time that has happened in franchise history," writes David Schoenfield for ESPN."

ESPN review highlights missed opportunities for Padres in 2025 season

What could San Diego have done differently to earn an A grade? Simple, they needed to win the NL West.

"We'll bump this grade up if they can manage to chase down the Dodgers the final weekend of the regular season," wrote Schoenfield.

That obviously didn't happen, with the Dodgers clinching the NL West last night with a win over the Seattle Mariners.

The Padres are also now locked into the No. 5 seed in the NL, meaning their path to the World Series will begin on the road.

Of course, San Diego can prove ESPN wrong by winning in the postseason. These grades are only idicative of the regular-season performance. All things considered, it makes sense. The Padres had a good season, but they had the talent to do even more.

With the best bullpen in baseball and a lineup full of All-Stars, the Padres have the pieces in place to win their division. They keep coming up a few games short, and that is the difference between an A and a B. San Diego reached expectations this season. They made the playoffs. But to receive an A, you have to exceed expectations, and the Padres were not able to do that. They find themselves in the same position they were in 2022 and 2024. Just a few games behind the Dodgers, and needing a miracle playoff run.

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