After eight seasons, most of which with the Milwaukee Brewers, Mark Loretta signed with the San Diego Padres for the 2003 Season, and he had the best run of his career as a Padre.

Loretta took over at Second Base for San Diego, and in 2003, he batted .314 with 13 Home Runs and 185 Hits, a very good year for him, but he had something better planned in 2004.  An All-Star for the first time, Loretta had career-bests in Runs (108), Hits (208), Doubles (47), Home Runs (16), RBIs (76), and the Slash Line (.335/.391/495), won the Silver Slugger and was ninth in MVP voting. 

Loretta was not able to recapture that in 2005 but did in 2006…though, by that time, he had already been traded to Boston.  With the Padres, Loretta batted .314 with 506 Hits.