Padres’ manager retires, citing ‘grind’

Mike Shildt is retiring after two seasons as the San Diego Padres’ manager.

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PADRES manager Mike Shildt, 57, who never played professional baseball, led San Diego to two postseason appearances.

(SEAN M. HAFFEY Getty Images)

The Padres confirmed the 57-year-old Shildt’s decision Monday. In a letter to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Shildt said he is retiring because “the grind of the baseball season has taken a severe toll on me mentally, physically and emotionally.”

Shildt went 183-141 and led San Diego to two postseason appearances during his brief tenure. The Padres won 90 games this season and finished second in the NL West before being eliminated by the Chicago Cubs this month in a tense three-game wildcard playoff series.

Padres general manager A.J. Preller issued a statement praising Shildt.

“His dedication and passion for the game of baseball will leave an impact on our organization, and we wish him the best in his next chapter,” Preller said.

Preller will begin looking immediately for his fifth full-time manager since taking over the Padres’ front office in 2014.

Before joining the Padres organization in early 2022 as a player development coach, Shildt was the manager of the St. Louis Cardinals from 2018 to 2021, posting a winning record in each of his three full seasons.