MIAMI — Manager Clayton McCullough, entering his second year as the Miami Marlins’ dugout boss, spoke with Stephen Strom and Jack McMullen on the “Hot Stove Show” on Tuesday.
After finishing the 2024 season 62-100 and in fifth place in the National League East, McCullough guided the club to a 17-win improvement and a third-place finish in 2025.
Although the Marlins were outside the playoff picture, the team is confident it is building a soon-to-be consistent winner.
It has been a busy offseason for the club, most notably with the promotion of Gabe Kapler to the team’s sixth general manager in franchise history.
Kapler had served as an assistant general manager since his arrival in January 2024.
The Marlins also elevated Frankie Piliere to vice president of amateur forecasting and player evaluation initiatives, and Vinesh Kanthan to senior director of baseball operations.
McCullough touched on a number of topics, mentioning the productivity of Kyle Stowers – the Marlins’ lone All-Star representative in 2025 – as well as Jakob Marsee and Javier Sanoja, who won a Gold Glove award as the National League’s top utility player.
McCullough said he has had conversations with Connor Norby about making him the everyday third baseman and with Griffin Conine about moving him to the infield at first base.
Nothing, however, is set in stone, with McCullough saying he doesn’t know how the roster will look when spring training begins or at the start of the regular season in late March.
The Marlins also made changes to their coaching staff, hiring Chris Hess and Corbin Day as assistant hitting coaches, with assistant hitting coach Derek Shoman taking a job with the Chicago White Sox.
Craig Driver is joining the club as its first-base and catching coach, with Tyler Smarslok accepting a position with the Washington Nationals and Joe Singley being promoted to the Baltimore Orioles.
Miami has yet to announce its full 2026 coaching staff, according to MLB.com Marlins reporter Christina De Nicola.
The Winter Meetings will be held Dec. 7-10 in Orlando, Florida.
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