The Los Angeles Dodgers needed to find a new first base coach for manager Dave Roberts’ staff after Clayton McCullough was hired to be the new Miami Marlins manager.
McCullough had been with the Dodgers organization for a decade, with his tenure beginning as their Minor League field coordinator in 2015. In 2020, McCullough was given more responsibilities as he ran their alternative site at USC during the regular season.
McCullough reached the Major League coaching ranks as the Dodgers first base coach in 2021, following George Lombard’s decision to become the Detroit Tigers’ bench coach.
McCullough had prior managerial experience in the Minors with the Toronto Blue Jays organization from 2006–2014, but believes it was his field coordinator role with the Dodgers that prepared him to become skipper of the Marlins, via MLB Network:
“I think I really kind of felt it when I got the opportunity to be field coordinator. Had been a manager in the Minor Leagues, you’re in the dugout, you’re kind of living with the group each day, riding the ebbs and flows of a season. Then the chance to be field coordinator, I had my eyes opened to a different way of looking at player development and player improvement.
“Now it was needing to connect various entities within the organization in oder to build systems that were strong and processes to be put in place for a larger scale group. Running a Spring Training (alternate site in 2020), having to kind of be out at the forefront and message things to players and staff, that job, I felt really started to help prepare me for the opportunity to do this.
“So I’d have to say that field coordinator role offered a lot of front office conversations and vision, as well as still getting out there on the field and being in the arena where guys were working and playing.”
McCullough will be hoping to quickly apply what he learned to bring stability to a Marlins organization that desperately needs it. Since 2004, the Marlins have made 11 managerial changes.
The Marlins have two postseason appearances during that span, with one due to the expanded playoff format in 2020 as the sixth seed.
McCullough will have his work cut out for him as the Marlins are coming off their third-worst season in franchise history, behind 2019 and 1998.
Clayton McCullough was the Marlins’ main target
The Marlins identified McCullough as their main target early on during their searching process. After two previous conversations, both sides met in person at McCullough’s home following the Dodgers’ World Series win and an agreement was reached not long after.
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