Schumaker will not return as Marlins manager in 2025
TORONTO -- Skip Schumaker will not be returning as Marlins manager in 2025, the club announced following its season finale on Sunday. Miami will now begin a managerial search for the second time in three offseasons.
“After several constructive conversations with Skip, [president of baseball operations] Peter [Bendix] and ownership, we have mutually agreed to part ways, and Skip will not be returning to manage the club next year," Marlins chairman and principal owner Bruce Sherman said in a statement. "The Marlins will immediately begin the process of searching for the next leader to serve as our new field manager."
Schumaker wasn’t with the team over its final two games due to the death of his grandmother. He and the players hinted toward his future with the organization following Friday night’s 15-5 win over the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.
“I'm just grateful for the staff and the players giving it all to me every single day, whoever it was,” Schumaker said at the time. “We had so many different players come in, but they approached this game the right way professionally, and really excited for the next step with the Marlins in the future, and all the young guys, and so much talent in there, and all the guys who are coming off the IL. They're going to be in a really good spot.
“But I think the biggest thing for me is just a wonderful opportunity that was given, and the relationships that I've built, whether it was from players, media, coaching staff, up and down, security guards, it didn't matter. It was just a really good two years.”
Two years ago, two-time World Series champion Schumaker won over then-general manager Kim Ng with his determination to build a winning culture in Miami despite no previous managerial experience. Prior to taking the job in October 2022, Schumaker had served as an assistant to baseball operations and player development ('16-17), the first-base coach ('18-19) and associate manager ('20-21) for the Padres. He spent '22 as the Cardinals’ bench coach.
Schumaker, 44, would go on to be named the 2023 National League Manager of the Year after inheriting a 93-loss club and leading it to a full-season postseason berth for the first time in 20 years. But when Ng parted ways with the organization last October and the Marlins hired Bendix to be the president of baseball operations the following month, they agreed to void Schumaker's club option for '25.
Facing a flurry of starting-pitching injuries (Sandy Alcantara, Eury Pérez, Jesús Luzardo, Braxton Garrett and Edward Cabrera) from the onset, Miami got off to a franchise-worst 1-10 start en route to its fourth 100-loss season in franchise history and used a Major League-record 70 players. The Marlins would deal key members of their '23 NL Wild Card team, including two-time reigning batting champion Luis Arraez in early May and Jazz Chisholm Jr. ahead of the Trade Deadline.
“It has been a tremendous honor serving as manager of the Miami Marlins,” Schumaker said in a statement. “I’ve built long-lasting friendships with the staff and players and am proud of all that we accomplished together. I am grateful to Bruce Sherman, as well as the entire Marlins organization and the fans for their support during my time in Miami, and I’ll always cherish our 2023 playoff season.”
Schumaker finished with a 146-178 overall record with Miami over two seasons.
“I want to thank Skip for his contributions to the Marlins’ organization,” Bendix said in a statement. “I have the utmost respect for Skip and have truly enjoyed working with him. I wish him and his family the very best.”
Schumaker's departure is the latest turnover under new leadership. Bendix had previously dismissed assistant general managers Dan Greenlee and Oz Ocampo. Roman Ocumarez was let go as the Marlins' international scouting director, and changes are expected on the scouting and Minor League sides.