Skip Schumaker is out as the Miami Marlins’ manager, ESPN reported late Friday night.
While Miami was beating the host Toronto Blue Jays 15-5 on Friday, the Marlins announced that Schumaker would miss the last two games of the season. He was headed back to Florida because of a health problem in his family, per the club.
According to ESPN, he notified the team’s players postgame that it was his final contest with the team.
Schumaker was due to become a free agent after the season. His previous contract, which would have given the club the right to retain him next year, was revised by the club in a show of faith after a front-office shakeup last fall.
The news comes one year after Schumaker was selected National League Manager of the Year in his first season on the job. He guided the Marlins to an 84-78 mark — a 15-win improvement — in 2023, and Miami earned a playoff berth, getting swept in two games by the Philadelphia Phillies in a wild-card series.
This year, the Marlins are an NL-worst 60-100, having dealt away numerous regulars before the trade deadline when they weren’t close to contention. Jazz Chisholm Jr., Luis Arraez and closer Tanner Scott were among those sent packing, and numerous injuries left the rotation with no pitcher making more than 21 starts.
Schumaker, 44, served on the coaching staffs of the San Diego Padres and the St. Louis Cardinals prior to landing the managerial job in Miami.
Schumaker had an 11-year career as a major league player with the Cardinals (2005-12), Los Angeles Dodgers (2013) and Cincinnati Reds (2014-15). An infielder/outfielder, he produced a .278 lifetime average with a .337 on-base percentage, a .364 slugging percentage, 28 homers and 284 RBIs in 1,149 games.
The Marlins’ bench coach, Luis Urueta, will be in charge for the Saturday and Sunday games at Toronto.
