The San Diego Padres introduced Bob Melvin as their new manager on Monday.
"What an opportunity. I'm probably as surprised to be here as you all are," Melvin said.
The hiring of Melvin was a surprise for a few reasons. He was still under contract for one year with the Oakland Athletics, where he spent the past 11 years, and A.J. Preller had a proclivity for hiring skippers with no previous big league managing experience.
Melvin signed a three-year contract to replace Jayce Tingler, who was fired after the worst collapse in team history dropped the Padres from a one-game lead for the National League's second Wild-Card spot on Sept. 9 to elimination with more than a week left in the season.