Padres Superfan Looks Ahead To Friars’ Bright Future

With the return of baseball comes the return of your favorite San Diego Padres superfan: Ryan Cohen.

Along with the rest of MLB, Petco Park looked a bit different last season, with cardboard cutouts filling the stands in place of fans as per the league’s preventative coronavirus regulations.

However, despite his inability to see his team in person, Cohen’s love for the Friars remained as strong as ever. Another connection strengthened during last year’s campaign was that between Cohen and his brother.

“The final grand slam of the season was a Wil Myers shot in the first inning of a home game against the [Colorado] Rockies,” Cohen said. “I was watching that game with my little brother, who is not normally a baseball fan, but I was able to convince him to watch a game with me because I swore that these 2020 Padres were different.

“When (Myers) hit one out to right field, my brother and I went nuts. The bond that we were able to have over the Padres this year was really special to me, and I hope it is something that continues as they get even better and win more.”

In addition to some good old-fashioned brotherly love, the Boys in Brown have given fans much to look forward to this season. Just ask general manager A.J. Preller.

Last year’s Padres were the catalyst to an even more exciting 2021 season, chock-full of contract extensions and new talent.

Cohen remembers the moment he was made aware of one of Preller’s offseason additions.

It came in the form of a text from one of his friends: “BLAKE SNELL TO SD WHAT.”

“This friend is a Dodgers fan, so my first instinct was that he was messing with me, but I hopped on Twitter to see if there was any truth to the text,” Cohen said. “Sure enough, all the blue checkmark reporters were scrambling to tweet out the details. I sprinted downstairs and ran around in my backyard.”

Next in line: SP Yu Darvish.

Was Cohen equally as stoked? “Yu” better believe it.

“I had work the next day at Seaside Market when the Darvish rumors started really picking up heat. I happened to have been on a break when it was finalized, although it wasn’t technically official,” Cohen said of receiving the news. “I jumped around in the breakroom. Most of my co-workers were confused, but the ones who love the Padres knew exactly what it meant.”

There’s no doubt San Diego made big moves ahead of the 2021 season.

However, despite a roster stacked with new faces, Cohen says he’s most excited to see one that’s a little more familiar.

“I’m most looking forward to watching Fernando Tatís Jr. play baseball,” Cohen said. “It’s that simple. He brings such joy and electricity to every single game he plays. He also happens to be very, very good at baseball.

“As Padres fans, we have been clamoring for a player like him, and now that he’s here, I just want to enjoy every second of it. Luckily, we get 14 more years of it.”

With MLB anticipating around 20% capacity in ballparks, it’s possible that Cohen will be able to see his favorite player in person.

“Sports aren’t the same without fans,” Cohen said. “I can only imagine how much Petco would have been rocking for some of the huge moments last year, and I know that the fans who are there this year will bring that energy to make up for the lack of it last year.

“I know it’ll be hard to get in, especially early on with limited capacity, but if I can get my hands on a ticket … I’m there. Just the thought of dancing around and watching a great team on the field makes me so excited.”

Exciting things are undoubtedly on the horizon for this team and its fans.

Following a campaign as extraordinary as 2020, expect to see a continuation of last season’s momentum.

Cohen’s thoughts on this coming year’s success?

“Padres in four,” Cohen said. “I don’t know against who. I don’t care against who. My prediction is 162-0 in the regular season and a clean sweep through the playoffs. Gotta believe!”

Cover photo courtesy of Ryan Cohen.