Sources: Marlins hire Clayton McCullough as manager. Everything you need to know about him

MIAMI -- The Miami Marlins have landed a former light-hitting minor-league catcher as their new manager. It’s just not the one they were initially focused on hiring.

Two weeks after heavy front-runner Craig Albernaz removed his name from consideration for the job, the Marlins instead hired Los Angeles Dodgers first base coach Clayton McCullough as the 19th manager in team history, according to MLB sources.

McCullough was a minor-league catcher in the Toronto farm system from 2002 through 2005 and then managed in the Blue Jays minor-league system for seven seasons. The Dodgers hired him in 2015 as their minor-league coordinator, and he has been with the organization ever since.

Dodgers star Mookie Betts has called McCullough “the best coach I ever had.”

McCullough, who has a home in Jupiter (site of the Marlins’ minor-league complex), has extensive minor-league managing experience, compiling a 402-367 record while managing four teams in the low-level minors: Toronto’s rookie-league team in 2007, Lansing (Michigan) in 2008 and 2009, Dunedin in 2010 and 2011 and Vancouver in 2012 and 2013.

He joined the Dodgers in 2015, first as their minor-league field coordinator and then running the team’s alternate site camp at the University of Southern California during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

McCullough has been Dave Roberts’ first base coach with the Dodgers for the past four seasons.

He previously interviewed for the Marlins managerial job, with a different Marlins administration, before Skip Schumaker was hired prior to the 2022 season.

He also interviewed for managerial jobs with the Mets, White Sox, Guardians, Brewers and Royals in recent years. McCullough was a finalist for the Kansas City job that went to Matt Quatraro before the 2023 season.

The Marlins initially had two finalists for the job – Albernaz and Will Venable. But Venable – who did not receive an offer from the Marlins — agreed to manage the White Sox, and Albernaz removed his name from consideration for both the Marlins and White Sox jobs, opting instead to remain with the Cleveland Guardians as their bench coach.

The Marlins initially interviewed more than 10 candidates on Zoom before scheduling in-person interviews with Albernaz and Venable.

McCullough had an in-person interview with top Marlins officials a week ago in Jupiter, then met with owner Bruce Sherman and other team officials on Friday at loanDepot Park, sources said.

Ultimately, McCullough, Venable and Albernaz were the only three people who interviewed in person for the job.

There are parallels between Albernaz and McCullough. Both have worked with assistant Marlins general manager Gabe Kapler. Both were minor-league catchers who hit below .200. Both have spent the past few years on major-league coaching staffs. They’re similar in age – McCullough is 44, Albernaz 42.

Born in Oxford, North Carolina, McCullough played high school baseball in Greenville, N.C. and was drafted in the 47th round of the 1998 draft (by Seattle) but opted instead to play at East Carolina, where he was named second team All Colonial Athletic Association.

Cleveland drafted him in the 22nd round in 2002, but he struggled in the minors, hitting .197 in 104 minor league games over four seasons before moving into the coaching ranks. He spent one season as a volunteer assistant coach at East Carolina before joining the Blue Jays organization in 2007.

McCullough’s father, Howard, was a big-league scout for 36 seasons.

McCullough replaces Schumaker, who managed the Marlins for two seasons before parting ways with the team in a mutual decision. Now McCullough will guide the Marlins through their latest rebuilding project.