The Padres have narrowed their managerial search to no more than four finalists and expect to make a decision on who will replace the retired Mike Shildt by the end of the week.
Pitching coach Ruben Niebla, former Padres catcher and current Rangers advisor Nick Hundley and future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols are finalists for the position, according to sources. It is not certain they are the only remaining candidates.
The Padres have not commented on the manager search.
It was already known that Pujols met with Padres officials Tuesday in San Diego. Niebla was seen during his interview at Petco Park on Monday, and sources confirmed he and Hundley are in the running. Hundley could not be reached for comment, and Niebla did not answer a phone call seeking comment.
The three finalists and bench coach Brian Esposito (and possibly others) participated in interviews via Zoom last week in the first round of interviews. The second round of interviews is being held in person.
Niebla has essentially remade the Padres pitching program since taking over as pitching coach in October 2021, and the team has perennially ranked among the league leaders in that span. The Calexico High graduate pitched in the minor leagues in the Expos and Dodgers organization and coached in the Guardians organization from 2001 through 2020.
Hundley played in the major leagues for 12 seasons, the first 6½ of them (2008-14) with the Padres. He spent time working for MLB after his retirement in 2019 and has been a special assistant in the Rangers’ baseball operations department since 2022. Hundley lives in San Diego.
Pujols, whose 704 home runs are fourth most in major league history, has never coached or managed in the minor or major leagues. His managerial experience is limited to leading Leones de Escogido to the Dominican Winter League and Caribbean Series titles in 2025.
13 comments
Sick. I actually like this list
Apparently anyone that played for the Padres from 2008-2014 is a hot front office/ manager candidate lol.
One Tío Ruben please
I’m trying not to have a favorite because they’re all pretty good candidates for the Padres. My only requirement is, no matter who we decide on, that they can work with Ruben and we don’t upset Ruben.
Oh man am I a sucker for former catchers being managers plus I always just really liked Hundley
I genuinely think that Ruben might be the single most important person in this organization and we cannot lose him. He’s done wonders with this pitching staff compared to guys like Rothschild.
Whether or not he gets the main job, we need to find a way to make him happy and keep him.
Nice I called it
Give me Ruben!! 🇲🇽
Hundley…that’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time. A long time.
Niebla’s value to the organization goes far beyond a managerial role, so I hope they don’t make him manager. If he wants a promotion, move him to the front office, and make him head of pitching or something.
Ironically, Pujols is the only known remaining candidate with any managing experience.
Niebla’s value to the organization goes far beyond a managerial role, so I hope they don’t make him manager. If he wants a promotion, move him to the front office, and make him head of pitching or something.
Ruben is the choice. He understands the players, the team and the front office. Everyone knows him and from what I can tell, everyone respects him. I don’t think hiring an ex-star player in Pujols will help our star players play better. Anyone else they bring in would need months to get bedded in to the organization before they can make meaningful changes. Ruben would be ready on day 1.