Marlins hiring Clayton McCullough as manager

Miami Marlins are hiring former Los Angeles Dodgers first-base coach Clayton McCullough as ir next manager, a person with knowledge of hiring told Associated Press.

person spoke on condition of anonymity because agreement hn’t been announced. ESPN first reported hiring.

McCullough, 44, was hired by Dodgers in 2015 as ir minor league field coordinator and h been first-base coach on Dave Roberts' staff since 2021 season. Dodgers defeated New York Yankees in five games last month to win ir eighth World Series title.

A former minor league catcher, McCullough was a manager in Blue Jays minor league system for seven seasons.

He takes job previously held by 2023 NL Manager of Year Skip Schumaker, who parted ways with team in September after just two seasons. Marlins went 146-178 under Schumaker, who was hired in 2022.

McCullough, a Greenville, North Carolina, native, spent one season at Vanderbilt before transferring to East Carolina University. He was drafted by Cleveland Indians in 22nd round in 2002 and played in ir minor league system from 2002-2005.

Marlins also considered former Cleveland Guardians bench coach Craig Albernaz and Will Venable, a former associate manager for Texas. Venable was hired by Chicago White Sox as ir manager on Oct. 30, and Albernaz reportedly withdrew from Marlins' managerial consideration.