NL WILD CARD SERIES: CUBS VS PADRES

September 29, 2026

A.J. Preller

Petco Park

San Diego Padres

Pregame Press Conference

Q. A.J., making the postseason three years in a row under different managers, what is that telling you about what's going on behind the scenes with the process and how you guys are moving in the baseball operations department?

A.J. PRELLER: I think just obviously five times in seven years now and three years in a row, I think it speaks to the strength of the organization. We've got a ton of stability. A lot of people have been here for a long time throughout the organization: on the scouting side, development, Big League staff, medical team. It's a really good group.

Obviously every year it's tough to play in the postseason, so it's a big accomplishment. Got a lot of experiences and hoping to go on a deep run here this year.

Q. Joe Musgrove on the Wild Card roster. What does that mean to you to watch the work that he's done to get to this point?

A.J. PRELLER: Yeah, I think everybody knows the time that Joe puts into it. Last time we saw him in that '24 playoffs, I don't think any of us thought the next time we'd see him potentially was in this year's playoffs. Just a good feeling to have somebody that we all trust, and the amount of effort that he puts into his craft is real.

I know at times there was some frustration from people, hey, why can't Joe come back? It's not for a lack of effort. I think seeing him turn the corner the last couple weeks and feel really good, we felt good about putting him on the roster and his chances to help us win this series.

Q. A.J., can you take us through the process for getting Joe here. Like what has he been doing? How much has he pitched? What do you envision his role as on this roster?

A.J. PRELLER: He never really stopped from throwing. He kept his arm going. Obviously he made those rehab outings in the Minor Leagues and just never really felt great from bouncing back kind of standpoint.

Over the last few weeks, the medical team continued to try all different modalities and things to find things that would make him in a good spot, both pitching and then from that recovery standpoint. He's been down in Arizona. He faced hitters in an Instructionally type atmosphere, faced some of the Big League hitters here a few days ago. Velocity was good, stuff was good, shapes were good. Ruben and the group signed off on it, and he's going to be able to help us in any role.

It's a short series, so he understands we'll see how Craig will want to use him, but he's ready to go.

Q. What went into the decision to carry 11 pitchers, 15 hitters? Obviously gives you some flexibility offensively. Maybe a little short in the bullpen, but just take us through all that.

A.J. PRELLER: We've done it different ways here over the last few years. I think short series and just kind of weighing out versus the opponent. I think it was some really tough conversations, some good conversations overall, and I think a testament to the depth and the players that have contributed to us here this year.

Ultimately, I think feeling good, we have the starting group that will be in there, we have a bullpen we feel like is deep and some different weapons for Craig. Then the position players, Craig will have different looks with the three catchers and some different options off the bench.

So we ended up settling on that roster constitution, but there are a lot of different possibilities, and I think because of the way a lot of these guys have played here the last couple weeks.

Q. Was it just one appearance in Instructs for Joe Musgrove?

A.J. PRELLER: Yeah, he threw one game in Arizona and then some live BP settings.

Q. Then on Fernando, this stretch of baseball that he's been on these last couple of months, is this the best you've seen Fernando, and if so, why?

A.J. PRELLER: Yeah, Fernando's played tremendous. I think I'm just like really proud again, like for him to -- it would have been easy for him to look up after a couple of months, hey, maybe not my year, maybe not my season. There was none of that, no quit from his standpoint. It was I'm going to figure this out.

Again, he's a super talented player. He's a very natural player. Things look like they come easy to him, and they do, but I think for his ability to kind of figure things out, make some adjustments offensively, and just keep battling, and you look up, and he's impacted the game as a superstar player should.

I think over the last three or four months he's as impactful as any player in baseball on both sides of the ball. Glad for him and proud of him honestly.

Q. With Andujar in particular, hasn't played in a Big League game in quite a bit. What made you comfortable putting him on the roster?

A.J. PRELLER: I think same thing, went through the rehab process, got a lot of action in Triple-A, and then had the ability to get a lot of live at-bats over the last few weeks, since the Minor League season ended. Saw a lot of live arms both at the Arizona complex and over here as well.

Sometimes we've had success like that over the years where instead of kind of coming off the bench in the Big Leagues a couple days a week, we've been able to get some guys a lot of at-bats. It's kind of an individual thing, but some of our players have talked about getting their timing down that way and seeing a lot of practice, arm type, live arm deal.

Again, he's not a rookie. He's been here before, played in the playoffs last year, I think hit in the 3 or 4 hole for the Reds. And just overall liked having that balance to hopefully, if Craig needs to call on anybody coming off the bench, it gives us just an extra offensive weapon.

Q. Can you speak to the sheer differences of where this group was July the 24th versus where they are right now? And where does this rank for you in the seat that you have -- you navigate all kinds of roller coaster rides, but this ride with this team.

A.J. PRELLER: Every year is definitely different. I think there were definitely some moments in the first half where all of us -- just because we believe -- we've seen these guys play well, play in postseasons, win a lot of games over the years. Just kind of scratching our heads, I think, exactly what was -- what we could do better, what we could do different in the first couple months.

Again, a lot of belief that over the course of the year there's a track record. There's a lot of proud players in that locker room. I think seeing some of the guys we've counted on over the years come back and play really well, probably not a shock, but it's been nice to see.

Then really just like the ability for a lot of people to contribute. I think we've looked up, and I think it's been made -- a lot of the acquisitions and the players that have come up, maybe nontraditional paths, but seeing a Dustin Harris or Samad Taylor -- Luis Rengifo unfortunately got hurt and he's inactive for the series.

But that was all part of our story and our course of getting here, was kind of that combination of a lot of guys that have been here before, starting to play real baseball, and then some of the guys that have been new to this really kind of keeping this thing afloat and being a huge part of it in the last couple months.

Q. There's been no bigger supporter than Luis Campusano than you. How rewarding to see him have the type of season he's having and of course starting here in Game 1 with Michael King?

A.J. PRELLER: Again, these are -- they're definitely not linear and not super -- sometimes guys have to take a longer path. I think for Luis, he's one of our hardest workers, and he cares a ton. I think he's got a lot of ability and talent. There are a lot of people in the organization that felt like, yeah, Luis Campusano is a good Major League catcher. I think you see it at times with different players but definitely with catchers.

There's a couple guys maybe at a super young age that can come up and impact the game, but I think everybody that's been around the game of baseball, you can talk about a number of guys you played with, seen, been a part of teams where, yeah, like early on it's a tough position and there's a lot that's being asked of those guys.

I don't think for any fault of anybody, I think it usually takes some catchers a while to kind of get situated and comfortable, and I think it's a testament to the belief that a lot of people in the organization had to Luis that he could help us. He's done a great job for us this year.

Q. Four different playoff appearances, four playoff appearances in seven years with four different managers. Is Craig Stammen the keeper? Why is he the right guy for you?

A.J. PRELLER: Craig's phenomenal. Again, he's somebody that's -- he's been in the organization for the whole run, both as a player, as a staff member, and as a manager. I think it was really important for us, in terms of the hire, just somebody that the way we do things as an organization, like to throw things on the table, like to utilize our staff and our people to bounce different ideas around and utilize the experience and intelligence of a lot of really smart people in the building.

Craig understands that. He likes it. He appreciates it. He works well in that. He's got his own take and his own opinion, and he'll let you know that. Again, he's somebody that it's refreshing too. I've said it a few times.

Somebody that feels like -- how many times he said to this group here or some of the people in this group here, I probably screwed up or I could have done this better. That's what leaders do. They're good leaders, they're accountable, but they also understand they may not have all the answers all the time, and then they grow from that.

I think that's what we've seen through the whole season. Sitting down with John Seidler and Jose and Kwanza and Eric, he's going to keep growing throughout the year. He's got that type of mentality. I think we've all seen that in his ability, so expect him to do this for a long time.

Q. A.J., Ethan Salas making the postseason roster. A lot of guys in the clubhouse talk about how they enjoy the youthful exuberance he brings. 18-6 since he's been around, obviously not directly attributable, but what have you seen with the atmosphere in the clubhouse, the lightness, maybe the fun since he's arrived? How much of a no-brainer was it to put him on the roster with three catchers?

A.J. PRELLER: I think it's always hard, that chemistry opponent, what exactly that looks like. Again, everybody's around it. It's kind of hard to have that exact formula, but it usually involves some type of balance, veterans and youth, guys that have something to play for and guys that have some -- have been here for a while.

I think with Ethan, first thing is he just loves baseball. So I think that kind of rubs off on everybody. He's one of the first guys -- him and Jackson are usually the first guys in the building. Those guys have a relationship together, which is cool to see.

Again, I think it's good for our whole team. It's cool to see Manny Machado, who was that guy at 20 years old. I think it's always like whether something that's a little bit of a refresher course or ultimately just like that good balance and blend. I think we've had it in the last few weeks, and Ethan's been a part of it for sure.

Q. When during the winter did you first start talking about possibly signing him, and what finally led you to sign him when Spring Training started?

A.J. PRELLER: I think throughout we have different buckets of players. I think we knew our situation. We weren't going to have a ton of dollars from a budget standpoint last year. Usually that market starts to develop January, February, as you get into the next year.

I think with Ty, I think part of it for us was highlighting a bunch of players that we felt like could come in and potentially contribute for us. Pete DeYoung, our pro scouting director, did a tremendous job with Ty. Obviously we have history. We drafted Ty and know him very well, him playing here, his college baseball in San Diego.

But Pete going and working him out and being around him, seeing that he made some adjustments from a swing standpoint, talking to him about his motivation. He's very interested in coming to San Diego, coming back here. I think he feels like this is home, Southern California kid. I think it lined up for us right before Spring Training.

Q. Most teams don't have the added, ever-present challenge of being in a division with the Dodgers. You only get so many cracks at it. How hard has it been to chase a title when you don't ever win the division?

A.J. PRELLER: Again, there's all different paths, and we've seen teams that have gotten to the World Series by being the hot team and going through the Wild Card route. We've seen teams obviously playing one less series on paper can definitely help you.

I think the thing, again, like with the National League, I think we've seen it this year, maybe directly attributable to the Dodgers and others that are really good teams, so you kind of have to play your best baseball. You have to constantly be looking to improve your team and add. You get challenged in the season when we play them head to head for sure.

But I think in general the National League with the Dodgers being the best team here the last few years in the National League, I think it forces you to set, like you said, high standards and play at a high level.

So there are challenges, but there are also things you benefit from honestly in terms of being ready for a season and the postseason. Hopefully we're ready for this one.

Q. As far as Joe goes, what do you think that moment will mean to him given all the work two years full circle, and maybe as an extension to you and guys in the clubhouse knowing what he's meant to the franchise and how badly he wants to be a part of this?

A.J. PRELLER: Again, it's going to be, I think for everybody, everybody is going to be super happy for him and understands -- they've seen it every day, the work that he puts in. It will be like any postseason moment we're running into a game -- I never did it, but I'm sure it's insane for you to come in and enjoy that moment for Joe. It will be extra special for everybody on the bench and in the clubhouse and the fans. I know it's going to be extra special. Looking forward to it hopefully in a winning spot.

I think for everybody we understand that it's going to be a really, really good moment for San Diego and for Joe for sure.