Skip Schumaker named 2023 NL Manager of the Year

Skip Schumaker named 2023 NL Manager of the Year

Well, that’s one way to make a first impression!

In his inaugural season as MLB manager, Miami Marlins skipper (pun intended) Skip Schumker was named the National League’s 2023 Manager of the Year Tuesday by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

Of the 30 voters, Schumaker earned eight first-place votes, along with eight second- and third-place votes apiece. He narrowly beat out former Milwaukee Brewers manager and now-Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell–who earned five first-place votes–and Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker, who also received eight first-place votes.

This marks the ninth time in MLB History–including the second time in Marlins history–when a manager has earned a league’s Manager of the Year award in his first full season on the job.

Here is a list of them below:

• 1986: Hal Lanier, Astros
• 1993: Dusty Baker, Giants
• 2006: Joe Girardi, Marlins
• 2014: Matt Williams, Nationals
• 2015: Jeff Banister, Rangers
• 2016: Dave Roberts, Dodgers
• 2017: Torey Lovullo, Diamondbacks
• 2019: Rocco Baldelli, Twins
• 2023: Skip Schumaker, Marlins

“I dreamt of playing in the Major Leagues one day, and then I fell in love with coaching, and then I got this opportunity,” Schumaker said, according to MLB.com’s Christiana De Nicola. “I never once during the season [was like], ‘Oh, if I win two more games, I’m going to maybe have a shot of winning the Manager of the Year.’ That’s insane. Nobody really thinks of that. I hope not, because you shouldn’t be in that seat. It was never about me. I just did whatever I could to win that day.“

"I think we set a new standard in that clubhouse, and now it's time to protect the standard."

– 2023 NL Manager of the Year Skip Schumaker on his successful first season with the @Marlins pic.twitter.com/4bFOjNlRe5

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) November 14, 2023

It’s been quite the year for South Florida sports, and this only piles onto it.

Schumaker became the fourth Marlins skipper to win the award, joining Don Mattingly (2020), Girardi and Jack McKeon (2003). He inherited a team that did not have a winning season over a 162-game slate since 2009 and went 84-78, making the postseason for only the second time since 2003.

While the Marlins will be without ace Sandy Alcantara for the entirety of 2024 due to Tommy John Surgery, the Marlins are hoping to get back to the postseason for the second consecutive season for the first time in franchise history in 2024.

***

SUBSCRIBE to the Vendetta YouTube Channel!

SHOP for Vendetta Merch!

SUPPORT Vendetta on Patreon!

Click here for more MLB content