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Former Toronto Blue Jays fan-favorite named new coach for San Diego Padres
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Craig Stammen is rounding out his staff.
The new manager of the San Diego Padres now has three more new coaches to help him navigate his first season as big league skipper.
The Athletic's Dennis Lin has reported that Bob Henley, Ryan Goins, and Kevin Plawecki are set to be hired by San Diego. All three are former players.
The Padres are close to finalizing their coaching staff under Craig Stammen. Per sources, they're expected to add Bob Henley (third-base coach), Kevin Plawecki (catching), and Ryan Goins (infield). Nick Punto, who helped coach the infield last season, is returning.
Henley and Goins both have prior major league coaching experience, while Plawecki moves up from the minor leagues for his major league coaching assignment.
Henley will serve as the third base coach, while Goins will become the team's infield coach. Plawecki, a former big league backstop, will be a catching instructor.
Goins is familiar to fans of the Toronto Blue Jays. The utility infielder spent five seasons with the big league club and was part of the 2015-2016 teams that returned the franchise to the post-season for the first time in two decades.
It's no surprise that the Padres hired him as an infield coach. During his time with the Blue Jays most of his appearances came at either second base or shortstop, though he occasionally popped at both first and third base, as well as the corner outfield.
Goins previously held similar role with Los Angeles Angels.
His job with the Padres is actually his second big league coaching job. For the last two seasons he filled the same job with the Los Angeles Angels as part of manager Ron Washington's coaching staff. After Washington went on medical leave, Goins became interim bench coach for the remainder of the season. The Angels recently hired his replacement.
Despite being a major league coach for only two seasons, Goins has already gained a reputation as a guy with a great baseball and analytical mind.