MIAMI -- When Marlins manager Skip Schumaker lines up along the third-base line at loanDepot park for Opening Day introductions, he will do so with more than a heavy heart.

Schumaker has switched from No. 55 to 45 in honor of his father, Wayne, who died from congestive heart failure on March 19. He was 72.

“My dad was obviously my hero growing up, and he was No. 45 in high school -- played football and basketball,” Schumaker said. “I felt like it was a good tribute to him this year. And so, Sixto [Sánchez] was nice enough to give me his number. I'm not going to tell you what I gave him back, but I think it was a really nice gesture from him, and I'm excited to wear it.”

Schumaker flew back home to southern California twice during Spring Training to be with his family, most recently ahead of Monday’s services. He was back in South Florida for Tuesday’s intrasquad scrimmage.

“I'm good,” Schumaker said. “It was a tough day yesterday. The funeral was yesterday, but he went peacefully, and that's all you can ask for, and I'm ready for the season to start to take my mind off it.”

While Wayne wasn’t the person to get a young Skip into baseball -- that comes from his mother Marlene’s side of the family -- Wayne drove Skip around California for travel ball tournaments. He inherited his father’s fiery personality and loyalty.

Schumaker doesn't know whether he will stick with No. 45 beyond the 2024 season. He’ll wait and see how things go. He wore No. 55 for most of his 11-year big league playing career and in the dugout as a coach. Sánchez will don No. 18.

“Everyone's been great,” Schumaker said. “[Principal owner] Bruce Sherman has been awesome, and so has Peter [Bendix], letting me get through it and do my thing. Family is what it's all about. I'm very grateful for them in letting me spend some time with the family back in California. The coaching staff's been great. [Bench coach Luis Urueta] can run this whole thing. He's the best, so I had no worries at all. But I'm looking forward to get the day going today.”