Nobody expected the 2024 San Diego Padres to be this fun. Seriously. After the 2023 disaster—where a roster dripping with $250 million worth of talent somehow missed the playoffs—the vibe in San Diego was, well, let’s call it "cautiously pessimistic." Then Peter Seidler passed away. Then Juan Soto was traded to the Yankees. It felt like the window hadn't just slammed shut; it had been boarded up with plywood.
But baseball is weird.
Instead of collapsing, the 2024 squad turned into the most resilient, high-octane group of grinders the city has seen since 1998. They didn't just play baseball; they played a specific, chaotic brand of "Padresing" that finally meant winning instead of losing in heartbreaking fashion. They finished with 93 wins. They pushed the eventual champion Dodgers to the absolute brink in the NLDS. Most importantly, they proved that losing a superstar like Soto doesn't mean losing your identity.
The Trade That Wasn't a Death Sentence
When A.J. Preller shipped Juan Soto and Trent Grisham to the Bronx in December 2023, the national media wrote the Padres off. The narrative was simple: the "Rockstar GM" was forced to cut payroll, and the party was over. But look at what actually happened. The Padres didn't just get salary relief; they got a rotation.
Michael King was the centerpiece. People forget he was mostly a dynamic reliever for the Yankees who was just starting to transition into a starter. In San Diego, he turned into a legitimate ace. By the time the 2024 San Diego Padres hit the All-Star break, King wasn't just a "piece" of a trade—he was arguably the most consistent arm on the staff, finishing the year with a 2.95 ERA and nearly 200 strikeouts.
Then there’s Jurickson Profar.
Honestly, the Profar story is the heart of the 2024 season. He signed a one-year, $1 million deal late in spring training. It was a "prove it" contract for a guy most teams thought was washed. Instead, he started the All-Star game. He became the emotional heartbeat of the clubhouse. When Will Smith (the Dodgers catcher, not the actor) called him a "irrelevant," it lit a fire under the entire city. Profar hit .280 with 24 homers and played with a visible joy that defined this specific era of San Diego baseball.
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Jackson Merrill and the Youth Movement
If you want to talk about the 2024 San Diego Padres, you have to talk about Jackson Merrill. He was 20 years old on Opening Day. He had never played center field in his life. Not in high school, not in the minors.
He didn't care.
Merrill’s rookie season was stuff of legends. He didn't just play the position; he became a Gold Glove-caliber defender while hitting late-inning home runs like it was a hobby. There was a stretch in August where it felt like every time the Padres were down in the 9th, Merrill would just casually blast a game-tying or walk-off shot. He finished with 90 RBIs and an .826 OPS. He didn't win Rookie of the Year because Paul Skenes is a generational freak of nature, but in any other year, Merrill is the unanimous choice.
The shift in team chemistry was palpable. In 2023, the team felt like a collection of expensive islands. In 2024, they felt like a pack. You saw it in the dugout celebrations and the way they swarmed the field after their league-leading number of comeback wins. They were never out of a game. It was exhausting to watch, but in the best way possible.
Pitching Chaos and the Cease Factor
A.J. Preller can't help himself. Right before the season started, he swung a deal for Dylan Cease. It cost a lot of prospect capital, but man, did it pay off. Cease threw a no-hitter against the Nationals in July—only the second in franchise history.
But the pitching story wasn't just about the starters. The bullpen was a mid-season construction project that actually worked. Bringing in Tanner Scott and Bryan Hoeing at the trade deadline turned the final three innings of every game into a nightmare for opponents. Robert Suarez, despite a few shaky outings in September, established himself as "Bobby Bullets," routinely hitting 101 mph and slamming the door with a terrifying intensity.
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Joe Musgrove struggled with elbow issues, and Yu Darvish had to step away for personal reasons for a large chunk of the year. In previous years, that would have sunk the ship. In 2024, guys like Matt Waldron—the knuckleballer—stepped up. Seeing a 78-mph knuckleball baffle billion-dollar lineups was one of the many surreal joys of this season.
Why the NLDS Loss Still Stings (and Matters)
The playoff run was short but incredibly intense. Sweeping the Braves in the Wild Card round felt like a statement. Then came the Dodgers.
The 2024 NLDS was arguably the highest-level baseball played all year. The Padres took a 2-1 lead. They had the Dodgers on the ropes. The atmosphere at Petco Park was described by long-time locals as the loudest the city has ever been—even surpassing the '98 World Series run.
Then the bats went cold. 24 consecutive scoreless innings to end the series.
It was a brutal way to go out, especially seeing the Dodgers go on to win the World Series. There’s a legitimate argument that the Padres were the second-best team in baseball in 2024. They just happened to play in the same division as the best one. But that series changed the rivalry. It’s no longer "Little Brother" vs. "Big Brother." It’s a war.
The Manny Machado Factor
We have to mention Manny. He started the season slow, recovering from elbow surgery. He looked sluggish. Fans were worried the massive contract was going to become an albatross.
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Then he got healthy.
Machado surpassed Nate Colbert to become the all-time franchise home run leader. He provided the steady veteran presence that allowed Merrill and Profar to thrive. He’s the captain in everything but name, and his defensive highlights at third base remain a nightly reminder that we’re watching a future Hall of Famer in his prime.
Real Insights for the 2025 Transition
The 2024 San Diego Padres taught us that team construction isn't just about adding the most "stars." It’s about balance. The 2023 team had more "talent," but the 2024 team was a better baseball team. They bunted. They moved runners over. They played elite defense.
What does this mean for the future?
First, the "Preller-verse" is alive and well. Expect more aggressive trades, but with a focus on high-motor players rather than just big names. Second, the farm system is still producing—keep an eye on Ethan Salas and Leodalis De Vries. Third, the pitching depth is the priority. You can never have enough Michael Kings.
If you’re looking to follow this team moving forward, stop looking at the HR/RBI stats and start looking at "Runners Left on Base." The 2024 squad succeeded because they slashed that number significantly compared to 2023. They were clutch.
Actionable Steps for Padres Fans:
- Watch the Arbitration Numbers: The Padres have several key pieces hitting arbitration. How they navigate the budget while keeping the core together will define the next three years.
- Invest in Jackson Merrill: If you’re a memorabilia person, his rookie cards and jerseys are the safest bet in San Diego sports history. He’s the face of the franchise now.
- Monitor Joe Musgrove’s Health: His recovery from Tommy John surgery is the biggest "X-factor" for the 2025-2026 rotation. Without him, the load on Cease and King becomes immense.
- Attend a Mid-week Game: Petco Park sold out nearly every game in 2024. If you want tickets for 2025, you need to buy them the moment single-game seats go on sale; the days of "walking up to the box office" are officially over in San Diego.
The 2024 season wasn't just a rebound; it was a fundamental shift in how San Diego views its baseball team. They aren't the "lovable losers" anymore. They are a powerhouse that expects to win every night, led by a group of guys who actually seem to like playing together. That’s a dangerous combination for the rest of the NL West.