Schumaker named next Marlins manager
Christina De Nicola
@cdenicola13MIAMI -- Skip Schumaker was named the 16th manager in Marlins history on Tuesday and will succeed Don Mattingly, who was the club's longest-tenured and winningest skipper.
This will be the first managerial job for Schumaker, who played 11 Major League seasons with the Cardinals, Dodgers and Reds from 2005-15. He was on World Series-winning Cardinals clubs in 2006 and ¡®11. The utilityman finished with a .278/.337/.364 slash line and 28 homers in 1,149 career games. Schumaker played for Mattingly¡¯s Dodgers in 2013, helping the club win the National League West and reach the NL Championship Series.
Schumaker was a two-time nominee for the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award, which is given to a player who exhibits inspirational leadership on the field and in the community. In 2009, he received the Darryl Kile Award, presented annually to the Cardinals and Astros player who best exemplifies Kile's traits of "a good teammate, a great friend, a fine father and a humble man." The winner is determined by each local chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
¡°After an extensive process, it is with great pride and excitement that we announce Skip Schumaker as manager of the Miami Marlins as we welcome him, his wife, Lindsey, and children, Presley and Brody, to the Marlins family,¡± Marlins chairman and principal owner Bruce Sherman said. ¡°Skip has a long list of distinguished accomplishments as both a player and a coach that showcase the remarkable individual he is as well as the high level of credibility and leadership he will bring to the dugout and the Marlins organization. He has an incredible passion and winning spirit that will set the course for the Marlins franchise.¡±
Following his playing career, Schumaker has been a fast riser in the front-office and coaching ranks. He served as an assistant to baseball operations and player development for the Padres from '16-17, then joined the field staff as the first-base coach ('18-19) and associate manager ('20-21).
¡°As we continue to grow as an organization, we felt it was important to find an individual who had been a part of a winning culture,¡± said Marlins general manager Kim Ng. ?¡°Having been a member of two championship teams, along with his reputation for tenacity and getting every ounce out of his ability, Skip will be a tremendous example to our players. ?His leadership style, teaching skills and attention to detail made him the clear choice as the club¡¯s new manager.¡±
¡°I¡¯m very excited and grateful that Bruce, Kim and the Marlins organization have given me an opportunity to manage a very talented team,¡± Schumaker said. ¡°Delivering a winning, sustainable culture with the expectation of getting into the postseason is the next step for this organization and South Florida -- and I can¡¯t wait to get started.¡±
The 42-year-old Schumaker rejoined the Cardinals as bench coach for the 2022 season, serving as the right-hand man for first-time manager Oliver Marmol. A native of Torrance, Calif., Schumaker and his family reside in Ladera Ranch.
Other finalists for the managerial position included Astros bench coach Joe Espada, Rays bench coach Matt Quatraro and Yankees third-base/outfield coach Luis Rojas.