Marlins Name Skip Schumaker 16th Manager in Franchise History
For the first time since 2015, someone other than Don Mattingly will be running the show in Miami.
The Marlins officially hired Skip Schumaker to become the 16th manager in franchise history on Tuesday, announced via social media. Schumaker spent this past season as the St. Louis Cardinals bench coach.
As part of this announcement, Marlins chairman and principal owner Bruce Sherman released a statement regarding the process, welcoming Schumaker to the franchise.
“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,” 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.”
Marlins GM Kim Ng also issued a statement, expressing her excitement over the hiring of Schumaker, which is her first managerial hire since joining the organization in 2020.
“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 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.”
The press release also included a statement from Schumaker, thanking the Marlins for granting him this opportunity while mentioning his dedication to improving a team that finished 69-93 this past season.
“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.”
Prior to joining the Cardinals, Schumaker was employed by the San Diego Padres for five seasons from 2016-21, serving numerous roles with the organization. The 42-year-old quickly rose through the coaching ranks, ultimately becoming the team’s associate manager from 2020-21.
Schumaker also played 11 Major-League seasons from 2005-15, appearing with the Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds. The Torrance, Calf., native won a World Series with St. Louis in 2011 and was also a part of their championship-winning roster in ‘05.
Interestingly, the former player was managed by Mattingly during the 2013 season, when Los Angeles won the NL West Division and advanced to the NLCS. So the two have crossed paths before.
There will be large shoes to fill next season, however, as the Marlins transition from their longest-tenured and winningest skipper in franchise history.
-Thomas Hall
Twitter: @ThomasHall85
Photo: Barbara Moore. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.