Wed Apr 16 03:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Padres Stars Share Silver Slugger Honors with Hitting Staff in Unprecedented Ceremony
**San Diego, CA** – Padres stars Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill received their 2024 Silver Slugger Awards Saturday night in a unique ceremony that highlighted the crucial role of the team’s hitting staff. Instead of the usual pre-game presentation by team executives, Machado spearheaded an initiative to have the six-member hitting department present the awards.
Machado emphasized the tireless dedication of the hitting coaches, stating, “They’re the guys that are in the battle with us every single day… they’re with us 24/7, grinding with us as much as we’re grinding on the field. This award is theirs, too.”
Manager Mike Shildt embraced the idea, and the hitting staff—including sports science director Nathan Landau, assistant hitting coaches Mike McCoy and Pat O’Sullivan, batting practice and hitting instructor Morgan Burkhardt, hitting coach Victor Rodriguez, and special assistant Allen Craig—took the field to a cheering crowd before the game.
Rodriguez highlighted the often-overlooked contributions of the entire hitting staff, stating, “There are a lot of people that work with [the players], and sometimes they are not recognized.”
The team’s success is largely attributed to the hitting staff’s implementation of a line-drive approach, dubbed “Petco Park hitting,” which has transformed the Padres’ offensive performance. After two decades of below-average offensive rankings at Petco Park, the team now ranks fifth in the league since the arrival of Rodriguez and his staff.
Machado further praised the hitting staff’s dedication, revealing their late-night preparation, saying, “It’s 8:30, the game’s been over for an hour, and they’re in there studying the next pitcher…That goes unnoticed. Big time.”
The award presentations themselves held symbolic significance. Burkhardt, the longest-tenured member and Machado’s close batting cage partner, presented Machado’s award. O’Sullivan, who coached Merrill in Single-A, presented Merrill’s, underscoring the close working relationship between players and coaches.
Merrill expressed his gratitude, stating, “Low-A hitting coach, and he’s been with me every year. So after three years, getting that with him, it’s pretty sweet.”
Manager Shildt lauded Machado’s initiative, calling it “an absolute class gesture.” The unique ceremony served as a powerful testament to the collaborative effort behind the Padres’ offensive success.
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