Rangers name Skip Schumaker as team’s new manager

The Texas Rangers named Skip Schumaker as the team’s manager on Friday night. The announcement came after president of baseball operations Chris Young told reporters in the team’s season-end news conference earlier on Friday that the organization has not spoken to any external candidates for the role and that the 45-year-old Schumaker is “the focus” for the club right now.

Schumaker, who declined an opportunity to manage the Marlins for a third season last September, instead joined the Rangers front office as an advisor to Young. At the time of his hiring, Schumaker was considered the heir apparent to incumbent Bruce Bochy, who led the Rangers to their only World Series title in 2023. The team announced on Monday that the organization and Bochy mutually agreed to part ways, though the 70-year-old would be offered a front-office advisory role.

Schumaker, who had an 11-year playing career, has quickly risen through the coaching ranks and is well-respected in the game. Following his retirement as a player, he served as the San Diego Padres’ first-base coach before being promoted to associate manager. Schumaker went on to serve as Oli Marmol’s bench coach in St. Louis before getting the Marlins managerial job under general manager Kim Ng, who overruled other decision-makers following Schumaker’s interview to hire the rookie manager. The pair led the Marlins to a somewhat surprising 84-78 record, which netted the Fish a playoff spot and earned Schumaker National League Manager of the Year honors.

Following Ng’s departure, the new front office, led by Peter Bendix, began a rebuild, and Schumaker asked to have a 2025 team option removed from his contract. That request was granted, and Schumaker left for the Rangers job immediately after the season.

Schumaker will inherit a Rangers team that went 81-81 and missed the playoffs, an admirable run given that the team went a significant time without World Series MVP shortstop Corey Seager, second baseman Marcus Semien and starter Nathan Eovaldi. Of note: Schumaker’s son, Brody, is committed to playing baseball at Texas Christian University in 2026, which could factor into his decision-making.

(Photo: Brennan Asplen / Getty Images)