A GM rock star.
Matt Kemp coined A.J. Preller’s nickname on a Friday afternoon at Petco Park in December 2014 as he attempted to wrap his head around a whirlwind winter that had suddenly made sleepy San Diego the talk of baseball.
He, himself, was moving south from Los Angeles. Justin Upton, Wil Myers, Derek Norris and Will Middlebrooks were also on their way to Petco Park.
Preller even had a few more hits up his sleeve, with the Padres’ furious makeover culminating on this date — April 5 — in 2015 with the acquisition of Braves All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel on the eve of opening day.