These 2 former Padres were lights out with their new teams to begin 2026 season

Going into the 2025-26 MLB offseason, San Diego Padres fans knew they were going to lose a few beloved players. The Friars were not going to be huge spenders this winter, so it just became a matter of guessing where some guys would sign.

Ryan O'Hearn, who was acquired at the 2025 trade deadline by the Padres, signed with the Pirates this winter. Naturally, right-handed pitcher Dylan Cease was always going to try and get top dollar from whichever team wanted him most. That wound up being the American League champions in the Toronto Blue Jays.

These two guys will forever be remembered by Padres fans, but watching them both immediately succeed in their new threads stung, even if just a little bit. Both O'Hearn and Cease were welcomed with warmth and applause by their new fanbases thanks to sharp performances in their respective opening series.

How Dylan Cease and Ryan O'Hearn performed with Blue Jays, Pirates after departing from Padres

Cease put on a debut for the ages at Rogers Centre. He delivered a franchise-best 12 strikeouts across 5.1 innings and allowed only one run on three hits. He even struck out the side 1-2-3 in each of the fourth and fifth innings.

Those 12 strikeouts, in just one single outing for the Blue Jays, was more than he had in any start last season with the Padres. Crazily, Cease was hit with the no decision in this game against the Athletics, which went to 11 innings. The Blue Jays won the game anyway, though Cease was not credited with the win following one his greatest performances.

O'Hearn spent only a brief time in San Diego, but he was still a fan favorite. O'Hearn was a .276 hitter in 50 games, but was especially strong down the stretch, batting .293 in September as San Diego made a playoff push, while ending the regular season on a nine-game hitting streak. He batted 16-for-34 (.471) during this span, and forever stayed in Friars fans' hearts.

Now with Pittsburgh, O'Hearn picked up right where he left off. Facing the Mets in Queens to begin his new chapter, he batted 7-for-16 (.438) with a home run, three RBI, and three walks.

Both former Padres clearly had no issue moving on from their time with San Diego. We'll root for them from afar.