McCullough coached with the Dodgers for 10 years, as minor league field coordinator before 2021-24 as first base coach. He takes over in Miami for former Dodger Skip Schumaker.
The Dodgers coaching staff will look a little bit different in 2025, as first base coach Clayton McCullough was hired to manage the Marlins on Sunday, per multiple reports.
Alden González at ESPN was first to report the hire, which was confirmed by Fabian Ardaya at The Athletic. McCullough replaces Skip Schumaker, who left at the end of his two-year contract on September 29.
McCullough, who turns 45 in December, was the Dodgers first base coach the last four seasons and prior to that served six years as the minor league field coordinator. He worked then with Gabe Kapler, who was director of player development for the Dodgers from 2015-17 and is currently an assistant general manager with the Marlins.
In each of the last four offseasons McCullough has interviewed for managerial openings, including with the Guardians after the 2023 season, with the Royals after 2022, and with the Mets in 2021. Earlier this offseason, McCullough was a candidate for the White Sox opening as well before Will Venable was hired last week. McCullough was also a candidate in October 2019 for the Giants’ job that ultimately went to Kapler.
McCullough previously managed seven seasons in the Blue Jays system, at the rookie-level Gulf Coast League (2007), Low-A Lansing (2008-09), High-A Dunedin (2010-11), and short-season Class-A Vancouver (2012-13). McCullough’s minor league teams went a combined 402-367 (.523) and he reached the playoffs in five of his seven seasons at the helm, including Northwest League titles in both seasons with Vancouver.
From current Dodgers minor league field coordinator and former minor league manager Austin Chubb:
Can’t express how much Clayton has meant to the entire Dodgers organization over the past 10 years. No one deserves it more! https://t.co/g8aSj4r1ZO
— Austin Chubb (@AustinChubb) November 10, 2024