Bud Black to manage Padres through the 2015 season
Padres exercise club options on Black’s contract for 2014 and 2015
SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Padres announced today they have exercised the options for the 2014 and 2015 seasons on the contract of manager Bud Black. The club had previously extended Black’s contract in July 2010 to run through the 2013 season with club options for the 2014 and 2015 seasons. Executive Vice President/General Manager Josh Byrnes made the announcement.
“Buddy has a keen insight into team dynamics and creates a great environment for the players and coaching staff,” said Byrnes. “He is a gifted leader with a terrific mind for the game and a genuine interest and curiosity related to all areas of our organization.”
Black, 55, made his managerial debut with the Padres in 2007. Over six seasons (2007-12) with San Diego, he has led the club to a 464-509 (.477) record, including a 90-72 (.556) mark in 2010. The 2010 campaign was just the fourth time in Padres franchise history the club reached the 90-win mark, also reaching 90 wins in 1984 (92-70), 1996 (91-71) and 1998 (98-64). Black was honored by the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) after the 2010 season as the National League Manager of the Year.
In 2012, the Padres finished with a 76-86 (.469) record, ending the season by going 49-37 (.570) over the final 86 games from June 28 through the end of the regular season. The club’s .570 winning percentage was fifth-best among all National League clubs from June 28 through the end of the regular season.
“I am honored and humbled by the faith Josh and our ownership team have shown in me, the coaching staff and our players,” said Black. “I am extremely proud to be part of this organization, and I’m excited to continue working with ownership and our baseball operations team toward achieving our ultimate goal: bringing a championship to the great city and fans of San Diego.”
Named the 16th manager in franchise history on November 9, 2006, Black joined the Padres after seven seasons as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitching coach (2000-06). He previously spent four years in the Cleveland Indians organization where he first worked with Byrnes. With the Indians, Black held the position of Special Assistant to General Manager John Hart for three years (1996-97, 1999) and pitching coach for Cleveland’s Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo for the 1998 season.
A left-handed pitcher, Black pitched 17 years professionally, including 15 seasons in the Majors with the Seattle Mariners (1981), Kansas City Royals (1982-88), Cleveland Indians (1988-90, 1995), Toronto Blue Jays (1990) and San Francisco Giants (1991-94). In 398 Major League games (296 starts), he compiled a 121-116 record with 32 complete games, 12 shutouts, 11 saves and a 3.84 ERA (876 ER/2053.1 IP). Black played in two American League Championship Series with Kansas City in 1984-85 and was a member of the Royals 1985 World Series Champion team.
Originally signed by the Mariners as a 17th-round pick in the 1979 June Free Agent Draft, Black played two seasons (1978-79) of college ball at San Diego State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in finance in 1979.