The San Diego Padres built their reputation as “Slam Diego” by swinging for the fences. Their star-powered lineups of the past few years leaned heavily on the home run, turning Petco Park into a launchpad and making long balls the franchise’s identity.
In 2025, the Padres have added an unexpected twist to their winning formula. Instead of relying solely on power, San Diego has embraced an old-school weapon: the sacrifice bunt.
This season, no team in Major League Baseball laid down more bunts than the Padres. They led the league with 48 sacrifice bunts, averaging 0.29 per game, while the Arizona Diamondbacks finished a distant second with 37. In an era where most teams have abandoned the bunt entirely, San Diego has leaned into it more than anyone, making it a defining feature of their approach.
It's working for San Diego
The strategy has paid off. The Padres used bunts to move runners, generate scoring chances, and keep constant pressure on opposing defenses. While home runs can still change a game in an instant, bunts have helped San Diego grind out runs in tight matchups and extend innings in situations where contact is king.
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What makes this shift remarkable is the timing. In an age of launch angle and slugging percentages, the bunt seemed to be on the verge of extinction. Yet the Padres have shown that when used consistently and effectively, it can be more than just a situational trick. It can be a weapon, and one that opponents have struggled to counter.
As the postseason unfolds, the Padres’ mix of power and small-ball could prove decisive. They have not abandoned their “Slam Diego” roots, but their willingness to embrace baseball’s past has made them one of the most versatile and dangerous contenders in the game today.
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