The Miami Marlins announced today that Kim Ng will not return as the club’s General Manager.
Ng, 54, was the highest-ranking woman in a major men’s North American professional sports front office. The Marlins hired her in November 2020 as general manager—the first female GM in MLB, the NFL, NBA, or NHL—and her contract included a mutual option for 2024.
“Last week Bruce and I discussed his plan to reshape the Baseball Operations department. In our discussions, it became apparent that we were not completely aligned on what that should look like and I felt it best to step away,” Ng told ESPN on Tuesday. “I wish to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Marlins family and its fans for my time in South Florida. This year was a great step forward for the organization, and I will miss working with Skip (manager Skip Schumaker) and his coaches as well as all of the dedicated staff in baseball operations and throughout the front office. They are a very talented group and I wish them great success in the future.”
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Ng deals for third baseman Jake Burger and first baseman Josh Bell at the trade deadline fortified a weak offense and helped push the Marlins to an 84-78 record and the final wild-card slot in the National League.
“Although the club exercised its team option for her to return for the 2024 season, Kim has declined her mutual option,” Miami Marlins Chairman and Principal owner Bruce Sherman said. “We thank Kim for her contributions during her time with our organization and wish her and her family well.”
Despite a minus-57 run differential, the largest ever for a playoff team, the Marlins improved by 15 games from the previous season following Ng’s hiring of Schumaker, who is under contract for 2024 with a team option for 2025. The playoff appearance, in which the Philadelphia Phillies swept the Marlins in the wild-card round, was the first for the team in a full season since 2003.
“We will immediately begin a thorough search for new leadership as we plan to continue to invest in the Marlins organization both on and off the field,” Sherman added. “We are committed to our fans and the South Florida community and look to build off the momentum of the great progress of this year.”
Ng had weathered significant tumult during her three years with the Marlins. In February 2022, Hall of Famer Derek Jeter stepped down as CEO of the Marlins after disagreements with Sherman on the franchise’s direction. Four months later, the Marlins fired the vice president of player development and scouting, Gary Denbo, who had clashed with people inside the organization.
With Ng in charge, the Marlins took steps forward. Left-hander Jesus Luzardo, acquired at the deadline in 2021, grew into a reliable starter in his first full season in Miami’s rotation. Rookie Eury Perez, who debuted this year just 27 days after his 20th birthday, was a revelation. Despite the struggles of reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara, who recently underwent Tommy John surgery, the Marlins’ starting pitching was a strength.
The offense still struggled but received a jolt from second baseman Luis Arraez, who won the NL batting title with a .354 average after Miami acquired him for right-hander Pablo Lopez over the winter.
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Miami Marlins communications contributed to this column
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