San Diego Padres

Padres express shock over firing of Bud Black

Published Jun. 16, 2015 12:15 a.m. ET

foxsports

In response to the firing of now former Padres manager Bud Black, there was shock coming from various players on the team. Black seems to have left a good impression on many of the players who just joined the team this year.

According to U-T San Diego, right fielder Matt Kemp said, "We were all shocked.”

Fellow outfielder Justin Upton said:

"I think the guys took it tough, including myself … We felt that Buddy was doing a pretty good job here with the new team and getting us to jell.”

Former bench coach and now interim manager Dave Roberts expressed the same feelings:

“There was some surprise, obviously, for everyone in that clubhouse.”

The firing was particularly tough for Roberts. Though he aspires to be a big league manager, he told the U-T that he didn’t envision it happening under these circumstances. Roberts called Black a “friend” and “mentor.”

(h/t U-T San Diego)

Photo credit: Jake Roth/USA TODAY Sports