Marlins reportedly poach World Series champions for new manager | Sporting News

The search for the Miami Marlins’ new manager appears to have ended. According to multiple reports, the team will hire Los Angeles Dodgers first-base coach Clayton McCullough to replace Skip Schumaker.

ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez reported that, according to a source “familiar with the situation,” the Marlins have tabbed McCullough out of a list of three finalists, including Will Venable and Craig Albernaz.

Venable beat out McCullough for the Chicago White Sox managerial opening, and Albernaz opted to remain as bench coach for the Cleveland Guardians.

McCullough, a career minor-leaguer as a player, spent the last four seasons on Dave Roberts’ coaching staff with Los Angeles. He was the team’s first-base coach for that entire time and also served as an outfielders coach while also being in charge of the team’s baserunning program. He is credited with Shohei Ohtani’s evolution as a base stealer, with the Japanese phenom becoming Major League Baseball’s first 50 home run, 50 stolen base player.

Previous to coaching in the majors, McCullough was the Dodgers’ minor-league field coordinator, where he worked with current Marlins assistant general manager Gabe Kapler. Before joining the Dodgers organization, he spent seven seasons managing in the Toronto Blue Jays minor league system.

McCullough reportedly interviewed with the Marlins via videoconference during the Dodgers’ successful postseason run this autumn before meeting with Marlins officials at the team’s spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla., as well as at Miami’s home field of LoanDepot Park.

The 44-year-old has interviewed for MLB jobs in the past and, most notably, nearly became the Kansas City Royals manager in 2023 before he was beaten out for that position by Matt Quatraro.

A North Carolina native, McCullough already resides in Florida during the offseason. He will become the Marlins’ third manager since 2022 and inherits a ballclub that finished dead last in the National League East last season with a record of 62-100.

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