There is no longer a female general manager in Major League Baseball. The Miami Marlins announced on Monday, “Kim Ng will not be returning as the club’s General Manager.”
Ng made history in November 2020 when she shattered the glass ceiling to become MLB’s first female general manager. She was the highest-ranking woman in a major men’s North American professional sports front office.
The decision to part ways with the Marlins was Ng’s. “Although the club exercised its team option for her to return for the 2024 season, Kim has declined her mutual option. We thank Kim for her contributions during her time with our organization and wish her and her family well,” the Marlins organization wrote in a press release.
According to ESPN, the Marlins wanted to hire a president of baseball operations to work above the general manager, which would have left Ng in the number two spot. Many suspect Ng’s departure was related to her desire to retain the role of final decision-maker.
Ng hinted at why she left the Marlins in an interview with the Athletic, where she said, “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.” Bruce Sherman is the chairman and principal owner of the Marlins.
Ng helped to turn around the struggling team. This year, she led the team to their first regular-length season playoff berth since 2003. Ng is also credited for several smart player acquisitions, including her recent deals for third baseman Jake Burger and first baseman Josh Bell.
The Marlins manager Skip Schumaker has voiced the utmost respect for Ng’s leadership. “The respect I have for how she leads is at the very top,” Schumaker told The Athletic earlier this month. “Players love her; she knows how to have difficult conversations, and it just feels like she is part of our on-field staff,” he added.
Given her historic rise within Major League Baseball, it’s natural to question what role her gender may have played in her departure and her prospects for a new position. For example, the Marlins may have miscalculated Ng’s likelihood of actually leaving the team. People generally believe that women are far less likely than men to leave an organization. A study of exceptional women and men found that the women, on average, are seen as 20% less likely to leave an organization.
“While it’s assumed that exceptional men will job hop to get a promotion, it’s assumed that exceptional women will stay loyal to their firm because they value their relationships with their coworkers,” the researchers write. They add, “Our findings illuminate how standout women employees can be taken for granted by firms because of gendered beliefs about who is and who isn’t a flight risk.”
But leaving may also be risky for Ng. Women encounter gender biases during hiring, and breaking into male-dominated baseball roles presents an even greater challenge. Ng interviewed unsuccessfully for five general manager openings before landing the job with the Marlins. The Boston Red Sox is currently the only team with an opening for a head of baseball operations.
On a positive note, some evidence surfaced Monday suggesting that the traditionally male-dominated realm of baseball may be becoming more inclusive for women. The San Francisco Giants announced that they interviewed Alyssa Nakken for their open manager position. Currently with the Giants, Nakken was the first woman on a big-league coaching staff and is believed to be the first woman to officially interview for a Major League Baseball managerial job.
Nakken’s interview opportunity is particularly significant because she’s pregnant. Her due date is February 9, just before pitchers and catchers report for spring training.
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