MIAMI (AP) — Kim Ng is leaving the Miami Marlins after three seasons as general manager, Marlins chairman and principal owner Bruce Sherman announced Monday.
Ng, 54, became the majors’ highest-ranking woman in baseball operations and the first female GM in the four major North American professional sports leagues in a groundbreaking hire in November 2020.
The Marlins exercised their team option for her to return for the 2024 season, Sherman said in a statement, but Ng declined her mutual option.
“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,” Ng told the Athletic on Monday. “I felt it best to step away. 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.”
When the Marlins first hired her, Ng said at the time that it was the product of years of determination and an honor.
“When I got into this business, it seemed unlikely a woman would lead a major league team,” she said then, “but I am dogged in the pursuit of my goals. My goal is now to bring championship baseball to Miami.”
The Marlins were a dormant franchise before they made the postseason during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, which was Year 3 in the rebuilding effort of former CEO Derek Jeter, who brought in Ng.
Miami reached the playoffs that year for the first time since 2003 and swept the Chicago Cubs in their Wild Card Series. Atlanta then swept the Marlins in the National League Division Series, but Miami showed flashes of promise and brought in Ng at the end of that season. Ng won three World Series rings while spending 21 years in the front offices of the Chicago White Sox (1990-96), New York Yankees (1998-2001) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2002-11).