The Miami Marlins announced the hiring of Skip Schumaker as their new manager, replacing Don Mattingly and becoming their second consecutive skipper with previous ties to the Los Angeles Dodgers organization.
Mattingly, who was a Dodgers coach or manager from 2008-2015, agreed with the Marlins front office to not to seek a new contract after his deal expired at the end of the 2022 season.
Schumaker played for the St. Louis Cardinals (2005-2012), Dodgers (2013) and Cincinnati Reds (2014-2015) during an 11-year Major League career. Schumaker hit .263/.332/.332 with 16 doubles, two home runs and 30 RBI over 125 games in his lone season with the Dodgers.
He began coaching with the San Diego Padres in 2018. Schumaker’s first role was as first base coach for two seasons, which was followed by advancing to Padres associate manager from 2020-2021.
Schumaker was part of the Padres coaching staff that snapped a 13-year postseason drought in 2020, though that ended in being swept by the Dodgers in the National League Division Series.
Prior to beginning his coaching career with the Padres, Schumaker was an assistant to baseball operations and player development from 2016-2017.
Schumaker spent the 2022 season back in the Cardinals organization as their bench coach.
“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,” Marlins general manager Kim Ng said in a statement.
“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.”
Ng was part of the Dodgers front office from 2002-2011, which overlapped with Mattingly’s time in Los Angeles but was before Schumaker’s.
“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.”
Skip Schumaker congratulated Clayton Kershaw
When Clayton Kershaw passed Don Sutton for first place on the Dodgers all-time strikeouts list, the team released video tribute that featured Schumaker and more former teammates, among others.
Daron Sutton, A.J. Ellis, Orel Hershiser, Fernando Valenzuela, Jaime Jarrín and Vin Scully each recorded congratulatory messages for Kershaw. Ellis, who shares a close relationship with the three-time Cy Young Award winner, also joked about never striking out against Kershaw.
Scully drew a parallel between the future Hall of Famer and fellow beloved Dodgers lefty Sandy Koufax.
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