San Diego Padres Hitting Coach Mark McGwire Reinvented Himself
A decade ago, Mark McGwire was a pariah. Now, the San Diego Padres hitting coach may be a hot commodity as a manager during the offseason.
Let us take a trip in the TARDIS and head back in time to roughly a decade ago. Mark McGwire had become a pariah, the glory from his 1998 campaign having faded far into the past. Instead, his PED usage had tainted his accomplishments, as he was considered a fraud throughout the vast majority of his career.
He finally came out of seclusion and admitted what everyone thought – that Jose Canseco was right about his PED usage. McGwire became a hitting coach, a position he now holds for the San Diego Padres. Over the past eight years, he has filled that role with the Cardinals, Dodgers, and now in San Diego. At every stop, he has earned rave reviews, especially in his work with younger players.
McGwire’s reputation within the game, which had been practically zero, has surged. He is now referred to as genuine and humble being, someone who just has baseball in his blood. McGwire is also content remaining as a hitting coach, saying that he has no desire to use the position as a stepping stone to become a manager.
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And yet, while he is not actively seeking out a managerial position, it would not be a surprise to see McGwire become a candidate for one in the offseason. His ability to work with those younger Padres players, as well as his time around Tony LaRussa, could be quite attractive for a team in need of a change.
It is also quite the difference from where McGwire was a decade ago. He was basically in seclusion, refusing to answer questions about his accomplishments and possible PED usage. Since his admission, it seems as though a huge weight has been lifted from his massive shoulders, letting McGwire enjoy the game once again. That joy is evident in his approach and dedication as a hitting coach.
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Mark McGwire has completely transformed his reputation. It would not be a surprise if the San Diego Padres hitting coach ends up as a manager in the near future.