U-T: Most of your tenure with the Padres you’ve searched for consistency - and injuries have played a part in that - but something that’s stood out about you is that you come to every spring training having really focused on something specific in the offseason, whether it be mental or physical. You see an ownership group who really cares about winning, really cares about the city and went out and made the investments in it.
But it was really cool to see the organization go out and spend money on not only me but other players as well, to really bring the hype here in San Diego. It was an interesting time here in San Diego too, especially as the Chargers left (for Los Angeles). What do you remember about that time and this organization believing in you? It kind of signaled a changing of the guard, that these kinds of contracts were going to be possible under this ownership (and we’ve seen even larger contracts since). In 2016 you make the All-Star Game and that offseason you sign a six-year, $83 million extension. U-T: You spent two years with the Tampa Bay Rays, then you were traded to the Padres before the 2015 season. To see these games sold out and electric every night is really cool. I heard that we have (25) sellouts now, which is a record, so that’s something we didn’t have early on. And it’s cool to see the city really get behind this team. Myers: Well, I’ll tell you what, the colors are different (laughs). Is there anything you look back on where you’re like, ‘Wow, this is just so different than how it used to be.’ U-T: You’re the longest-tenured Padre on this roster. Hats off to this organization and the front office for getting those things done. We go from a lot of guys from eight years ago who aren’t really here anymore to a lineup with a bunch of superstars.
And to see the roster shift is really cool.
#DODGERS SHORTSTOP 2015 FULL#
So it’s been really cool to see that come full circle, to see an organization be on the bottom and then kind of come up to the top. One thing that’s been really cool to see is the shift in the organization becoming kind of - I don’t want to say it was irrelevant, but definitely not relevant, like talked about on the national stage like we are now. The roster has changed quite a bit during your time here, but what about the organization? Have you seen a culture shift that’s tangible? Matt Kemp, Jedd Gyorko, Cory Spangenberg were your teammates. U-T: Yes, you were leading off and the starting center fielder.
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