Bob Melvin Reacts to Facing Padres in Season Opener

Eva Geitheim | Mar 29, 2024

Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

After a disappointing 2023 campaign in which the San Diego Padres fell short of the playoffs, former Padres manager Bob Melvin left the team to join to take the San Francisco Giants' managerial gig instead. Melvin spent just two seasons behind the Padres' bench before he was replaced with current manager Mike Shildt.

It didn't take long for Melvin to face the team he left behind. On Opening Day, the Padres hosted their division rivals in the Giants. In his return to Petco Park, Melvin's Giants fell to the Padres 6-4 in the first game of the four-game series. Melvin reacted to his return to San Diego after the loss.

“Look, I had some great experiences over there," Melvin said via Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune. “Our first year was fantastic. So last year wasn’t as good, but you build relationships and there are a lot of guys over there that I’m always going to pull for and some of my favorites I’ve ever managed in my career."

“So a little unique that we opened up here," Melvin said. "Maybe a little irony involved in that, but it’ll be interesting to face them on the other side, because I know, looking at other dugouts even last year when we didn’t perform well, those guys get your attention, so it’ll be an interesting four days.”

This game wasn't just the return of Melvin to the Padres, but also former Padres pitcher Blake Snell. Snell, the reigning Cy Young award winner and ERA leader who was on the Padres from 2021-23, joined the Giants right before the season began. However, Snell did not pitch against the Padres on Thursday. Instead, he will start against his former team no earlier than Sunday in San Diego.