Craig Stammen’s first season as a Major League Baseball manager is continuing into the National League Division Series.

Stammen, a 2002 graduate of Versailles High School, managed the San Diego Padres to a two-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs in the National League Wild Card Series.

San Diego finished off the series Wednesday night with a 4-1 victory at Petco Park after opening the postseason with an 8-0 win Tuesday.

The Padres outscored Chicago 12-1 over the two games. In Game 2, pinch-hitter Gavin Sheets delivered a two-run home run while San Diego’s bullpen allowed just two hits over the final 5 2/3 scoreless innings.

The postseason success adds to a historic first season for Stammen.

The North Star native and Versailles graduate became the first manager in Padres franchise history to record at least 90 victories during his first season in the position.

San Diego finished the regular season 91-71 and placed second in the National League West. The Padres also closed the regular season by winning 17 of their final 20 games. Yahoo Sports

Stammen went on to play college baseball at the University of Dayton before beginning a 13-year Major League pitching career with the Washington Nationals and Padres.

He spent his final six major-league seasons pitching for San Diego from 2017 through 2022. Stammen appeared in 562 games during his career, finishing with a 55-44 record and a 3.66 ERA.

There is also an interesting postseason connection between Stammen’s playing and managing careers.

In 2020, Stammen started as an opener in the deciding game of San Diego’s Wild Card Series victory, which gave the Padres their first postseason series win since 1998. Six years later, he has now guided the organization to a postseason series victory from the manager’s seat.

Stammen was hired as Padres manager in November 2025 despite having no previous managerial experience at any level. He had remained with the organization following his playing career, working in player development and baseball operations.

The Padres now advance to face the Milwaukee Brewers in the best-of-five National League Division Series.