The Kansas City Royals named Matt Quatraro their 18th full-time manager in franchise history. Prior to choosing Quatraro, the Royals interviewed several other candidates from outside the organization, including Los Angeles Dodgers first base coach Clayton McCullough.
McCullough has been a popular name for teams looking to fill vacancies on their coaching staff in recent years. After the 2021 season, the New York Mets reportedly interviewed the 42-year-old during their search for a new manager before hiring Buck Showalter.
The Mets also had interest in adding McCullough to Showalter’s coaching staff, but it wasn’t mutual and he remained with the Dodgers for the 2022 season.
McCullough has been with the Dodgers since 2015, initially serving as their Minor League field coordinator and helping oversee their alternate training site at USC during the 2020 season.
McCullough was promoted to first base coach after George Lombard left the organization to become the Detroit Tigers’ bench coach in 2021.
Before joining the Dodgers, McCullough worked in the Toronto Blue Jays organization from 2006-2014, managing four of their Minor League affiliates through the 2013 season. He went 629-559 during that span.
McCullough was selected in the 22nd round of the 2002 MLB Draft by the then-Cleveland Indians, but never made it to the big leagues as a player.
Andrew Friedman anticipates entire Dodgers coaching staff returning for 2023 season
President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said during an end-of-season press conference he anticipated the entire Dodgers coaching staff remaining intact for 2023. “It’s us collectively trying to learn what we can from what has happened and putting ourselves in the best position to avoid it going forward,” Friedman said.
“I feel like the vast majority of the time if the best team has always won the World Series and this happened to be an example of not, then I think it’s easier to point fingers and isolate why.
“Some of it comes down to what happens in the crazy tournament that is the playoffs of baseball. It cuts both ways. It’s exhilarating and awesome when it works out, and it’s crushing when it doesn’t. I just don’t see the world in terms of pointing the finger and firing someone for those reasons.
“Now, I think as a group, if we’re not constantly trying to get better, even if we won it all this year, I think the mindset of always trying to improve what we do is shared among everyone we work with. Those are people I very much believe in figuring this out with together.”
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