Padres finalize coaching staff for '23

SAN DIEGO -- The Padres finalized Bob Melvin's coaching staff on Friday, with minimal changes entering his second year as San Diego's manager.

Scott Coolbaugh and Oscar Bernard join the staff as assistant hitting coaches, following the departure of 2022 hitting coach Michael Brdar, who took on the same role with the Tigers in November.

The 56-year-old Coolbaugh boasts 21 seasons of experience as pro hitting coach, most recently with Detroit. Bernard, 39, is an internal hire who spent the past seven seasons as a Minor League hitting coordinator with the club.

Ryan Flaherty has assumed the title of bench coach/offensive coordinator after serving as quality-control coach a season ago. He's expected to remain in charge of the team’s offense, working alongside Coolbaugh and Bernard (though none of the three will technically hold the title of hitting coach).

Ryan Christenson, who served as bench coach last season, has been promoted to associate manager this year, though his duties are unlikely to change. He’ll remain at Melvin’s side, as he was for four seasons in Oakland before coming to San Diego in 2022.

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Aside from the additions of both assistant hitting coaches, the staff's only newcomer is Brian Esposito, who replaces Francisco Cervelli as the team's big league catching coach.

Esposito spent the 2022 season as manager at High-A Fort Wayne, his first year in the Padres organization. The 43-year-old had previously spent nine seasons in the Pirates organization as manager of several of its Minor League clubs.

On the other side of the ball, Ruben Niebla remains in place as pitching coach for a second season, with Ben Fritz back on board as bullpen coach for a fourth year.

Here's Melvin's 2023 Major League coaching staff in full:

Ryan Christenson: Associate manager
Ryan Flaherty: Bench coach, offensive coordinator
Ruben Niebla: Pitching coach
Ben Fritz: Bullpen coach
Matt Williams: Third-base coach, infield instructor
David Macias: First-base coach, outfield instructor
Oscar Bernard: Assistant hitting coach
Scott Coolbaugh: Assistant hitting coach
Brian Esposito: Catching coach
Peter Summerville: Gameplanning and coaching assistant
Heberto Andrade: Bullpen catcher and coaching assistant
Bryan Price: Senior advisor to Major League staff
Mike Shildt: Senior advisor to player development and Major Leagues