It’s unfortunate to see the Miami Marlins in need of a new manager, especially after fan favorite Skip Schumaker left to join the Texas Rangers.
Peter Bendix has been searching for a replacement for some time, and he has now announced Clayton McCullough as the new manager, a choice well-suited for the role. Clayton McCullough takes over as the new manager of the Miami Marlins. The team considered several candidates for this position. Cleveland Guardians bench coach Craig Albernaz was one potential choice, but he opted to remain with his team. Will Venable was also a leading candidate but chose a lesser role with the Chicago White Sox instead.
Throughout the process, McCullough stayed in the mix, although he was seen as a less prominent contender compared to the others. Interestingly, McCullough lives in Jupiter, Florida, which adds a personal touch as he takes the helm of his hometown team. So, who is he? McCullough previously played as a Minor League catcher with the Cleveland Guardians from 2002 to 2005, before becoming a coach at the young age of 27. He began managing within the Toronto Blue Jays organization rather than Cleveland, eventually moving up to manage their Triple-A teams before heading to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Since 2021, McCullough has served as the first base coach for the Dodgers, recently celebrating a World Series victory with the team after they triumphed over the New York Yankees in five games.
He was a candidate for several teams, including the Milwaukee Brewers, Cleveland Guardians, Kansas City Royals, and New York Mets. Last season, he was a finalist for the managerial position in Kansas City. While McCullough has never managed at the Minor League level, I see great potential in him leading the Miami Marlins as his first head coaching assignment. It will be exciting to see how he performs in the 2025 season!
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