The Miami Marlins have chosen Clayton McCullough, the former first base coach of the Los Angeles Dodgers, as their new manager. McCullough, 44, has spent the last four seasons on the coaching staff of the Dodgers, including their championship-winning season. He will be taking over from Skip Schumaker, who did not have his contract renewed and has since joined the Texas Rangers.
Before his time with the Dodgers, McCullough managed in the Toronto Blue Jays’ minor league system, where he had several winning seasons. He then moved on to become the Dodgers’ minor league field coordinator, working under current Marlins assistant general manager Gabe Kapler. In 2021, he was promoted to the major league coaching staff, where he worked as the first-base coach and oversaw the baserunning program. McCullough played a significant role in helping Shohei Ohtani become a successful basestealer in 2024.
McCullough was chosen as the Marlins’ manager over two other candidates, Will Venable and Craig Albernaz. Venable has since been named the manager of the Chicago White Sox, while Albernaz decided to remain with the Cleveland Guardians as their bench coach.
The Marlins conducted interviews with McCullough via videoconference while the Dodgers were competing in the World Series. After meeting with staff members at the team’s spring training complex in Jupiter, Florida, McCullough visited loanDepot Park in Miami for further discussions.
President of baseball operations Peter Bendix, who took over last season, made the decision to hire McCullough as part of the team’s ongoing transition. The Marlins surprised many by making the playoffs in 2023 but struggled in 2024, losing 100 games after trading away several key players. Bendix’s goal is to establish a winning culture within the organization, similar to what he achieved with the Tampa Bay Rays, despite the financial constraints faced by the team.
McCullough’s experience in developing young talent and his exposure to a championship-winning environment make him a valuable addition to the Marlins’ coaching staff as they work towards building a competitive team for the future.
