'It meant a lot': Marlins romp as Schumaker leaves team to be with family

TORONTO -- Some things are much bigger than baseball.

After learning the news of his grandmother’s passing, Marlins manager and family man Skip Schumaker informed his ballclub following Friday afternoon’s batting practice that he would be away from the team for the remainder of the season.

The Marlins responded by scoring a season high in runs in a 15-5 victory over the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. They have won three of four during their season-ending road trip.

According to a report from ESPN's Jeff Passan, Schumaker went further in telling the team that he will not return to the team next season after his current contract ends, though no official announcement has been made. With Schumaker heading to Southern California on Saturday morning, bench coach Luis Urueta will serve as acting manager for the final two games of the season.

“It meant a lot,” Schumaker said of the club's reaction before the game. “It was emotional in there when we talked, when I addressed the team. It was emotional because you care so much, and I think the players know if it's bullcrap or not by how you speak and how you address people. They know there's no fluff. They know that we all care, and that's what you signed up for. You only care if there's really good dudes in that clubhouse, and there are. There are some really good people inside that clubhouse.

“The game is the game. The stuff that you build during a season or after the season and for years to come is what matters the most. So I'll keep in contact with all these guys because of what they did to me and for me just in today's meeting. We're really grateful for all the relationships that we built throughout the couple years.”

Making Friday’s series opener even more poignant was the possibility of it being the last time in a Marlins uniform for Schumaker, whose future with the organization was uncertain all season after his 2025 club option was voided.

If that’s the case, the Marlins made Schumaker proud with their efforts. Despite arriving at their hotel after 5 a.m. ET on Friday morning because of Thursday’s 13-inning win in Minneapolis, Miami dominated from the onset. It epitomized the culture that Schumaker built since taking the job in October 2022.

Xavier Edwards matched a Major League record with three triples in a game, and became the first player to do so since Yasiel Puig in 2014. Jonah Bride notched his first multihomer game while reaching the double-digit home run mark for the first time in his career, while former Blue Jays’ farmhands Griffin Conine and Otto Lopez combined for four hits and three RBIs.

“Last night was a really fun win, and we talked about trying to bring that energy today in the clubhouse,” Bride said. “The meeting before we talked about, ‘Let's send Skip out on a strong note today,’ and obviously we're all thinking about him, and we all enjoy the heck out of playing for him.”

It has been an emotional year for the 44-year-old Schumaker, who went back home to be with his family twice during Spring Training due to his late father’s ailing health. He has worn a No. 45 jersey to honor him during every series opener.

“I think that God puts people in your life for a reason,” said Jake Burger, who looked to Schumaker for guidance on being a great husband, father and leader. “I didn't see that until a little through this year. I think he put Skip in my life for a purpose. He helped with a lot of stuff, not only on the field, but off the field. I'm forever grateful. That's just who he is as a person. I think God gives some of his biggest challenges to his mightiest warriors, and so obviously he's going through a turbulent time, but I think he has the capacity to handle it.”

A year ago, Schumaker led the Marlins to a surprise postseason berth as a first-time skipper and was named National League Manager of the Year. In large part because of a myriad of pitching injuries, Miami has gone through the fourth 100-loss season in franchise history this season.

“What I'll remember most is we kept in our processes,” Schumaker said. “The coaching staff, if you walk in there, you would never know that we had lost 100 games the way that they attack it and go about it. You would never know it walking in that clubhouse, the way each player goes about their business, and still tries to win every single game.

“So we try to keep that as much as we could, even though it was a tough win-loss record. There was no way that I was going to let anything slide, and no player was going to let anything slide or a coaching staff. We held each other accountable, and we made each other better because of it.”