Former Padres hurler Stammen headlines '24 Minor League staff

SAN DIEGO -- The Padres announced their player-development and Minor League coaching staffs for the 2024 season on Tuesday, with a trio of longtime big leaguers named as special assistants.

Newly retired Craig Stammen joins Allen Craig and A.J. Ellis as “special assistants to the Major League staff and baseball operations,” per Tuesday’s announcement. The Padres are viewing the group as a link between the Minor and Major League staffs and a resource for their players at all levels. All three will be in uniform with the big league club semi-regularly for pregame warmups and batting practice, filling strategic roles and collaborating with players and coaches alike.

“They round out our staff,” said Padres manager Mike Shildt. “They’re a tremendous complement to what we’re doing as a staff. I’m really, really excited about these three guys, because they’ve got a wealth of experience, and they’ve got a lot of credibility with our players and our staff -- and it’s all well-earned.”

Both Craig and Ellis have served as advisors in the team's front office since 2019. Stammen, meanwhile, retired last season following a right shoulder operation in March. During his 13-year big league career, he posted a 3.66 ERA, including a 3.36 mark across his final six seasons with San Diego.

Stammen had been working with the team's baseball operations department this winter. Stammen, Ellis and Craig bring a combined 23 years of big league experience, with the team noting that all three would be available to players and coaches, organization-wide.

“I couldn’t be more excited about the entire player-development staff,” Shildt said. “ … But this is a group that is going to be a big part of helping our big league club. Their presence will be a very valuable resource.”

Before he was named the Padres' manager, Shildt had spent the previous two seasons working in a similar capacity as an advisor. He worked closely with the big league club, but he also traveled and helped with aspects of the Minor Leagues and player development.

Since his hiring, Shildt has made it clear that organizational unity and collaboration are a priority.

“That vertical alignment is critical,” Shildt said. “When that’s working, you have your best chance to compete.”

As for the player-development staff, it remains the same at the top, with Ryley Westman as farm director and Mike Daly as assistant director. The twist? Daly will also take over as manager at High-A Fort Wayne, in an uncommon move that will see him jump from the team's front office to the dugout.

Pete Zamora takes over as manager at Triple-A El Paso after holding the same role with Single-A Lake Elsinore last season. Luke Montz remains in his role as manager at Double-A San Antonio, while Lukas Ray, who managed the organization's Rookie Level Arizona Complex League team, steps in as manager at Lake Elsinore.

Rob Marcello remains in his role as director of pitching development, with Jose Rada continuing as pitching coordinator. On the hitting side, Oscar Bernard (hitting coordinator) and Scott Coolbaugh (hitting advisor) have seen their roles shift to the Minor League level after serving on the big league staff last season.

The full Padres player-development and Minor League staffing list can be found here.