The Miami Marlins named general manager Dan Jennings as their new manager on Monday.
Jennings replaces Mike Redmond. He has been with the Marlins on the personnel side since 2002. This year is his second year as the Marlins general manager. Jennings has no experience as a player or a manager. He is the first manager with no experience as a manager or major league player since Ted Turner managed the Atlanta Braves for one game in 1977, according to the Associated Press. Jennings is the Marlins sixth manager since June 2010.
“For 30 years, I’ve sat behind home plate, and quite honestly, I’ve probably managed the game from that spot for both teams, trying to learn, trying to watch the guys who I’ve had tremendous respect for, how they handle their ballclubs, how they run the game,” Jennings said. “But to sit here and tell you as a young child I aspired to be a major-league manager, no, I did not. But I do feel very fortunate to have grown in a home with a father who is a coach, who’s been a motivator and leader of men, and who’s still doing that now at 77 years old. A lot of the lessons he’s imparted upon me have set a foundation on which I base my motivation, my leadership and my now managerial style upon.”
Redmond was in his third season as manager of the Marlins. He was fired on Sunday after the Marlins dropped to 16-22. Redmond was under contract through the 2017 season. He was 155-207 in three years with the Marlins, according to the Miami Herald. He is the fifth manager to be fired by the Marlins since 2002.
Jennings is under contract through 2018. He could possibly go back to being the general manager after this season. His first game as manager is Monday night.