BALTIMORE — At the end of the 2025 season, Mike Shildt announced his decision to retire and step down as Padres manager. The news came as a surprise due to the 57-year-old’s success at the helm in San Diego.
Shildt wasn’t away from baseball for long.
On Wednesday, a source told MLB.com that the Orioles are hiring Shildt to serve as the organization’s upper-level coordinator of instruction. Samuel Vega will be promoted by Baltimore and become the lower-level coordinator of instruction, per a source.
Neither move has been confirmed or announced by the club.
Shildt was the Padres’ manager the past two seasons, and he led the team to a 183-141 record during that time. San Diego made the postseason each year, losing to the Dodgers in the National League Division Series in 2024, then falling to the Cubs in the NL Wild Card Series in ‘25.
Although Shildt was under contract in San Diego through the 2027 season, he said “the grind of the baseball season” had “taken a severe toll” on him “mentally, physically and emotionally” in the letter announcing his resignation. Craig Stammen has since become the Padres’ manager.
A Charlotte, N.C., native, Shildt worked in the Cardinals’ organization from 2004-18 in various other roles, including as an area scout and Minor League manager. Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias worked in St. Louis’ scouting department from 2007-11.
Vega has been Baltimore’s Latin American field coordinator since November 2021. The 29-year-old was an infielder at Northern Illinois University from 2017-18.
It is not yet clear what responsibilities Shildt and Vega will have in their new roles. However, Shildt will seemingly work with players at Triple-A Norfolk and Double-A Chesapeake, while Vega’s duties would come with High-A Frederick and Single-A Delmarva.
