Marlins promote former Phillies manager Gabe Kapler to GM

Former Phillies manager Gabe Kapler was promoted within the Miami Marlins organization.

After two years in the club’s front office, Kapler has been named general manager under Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix, the team announced Monday. Kapler had previously served as an assistant GM with an emphasis on player development.

A former 12-year big-league outfielder who won a World Series ring with the Red Sox in 2004, Kapler’s non-playing career started in 2007 when he managed in the minor leagues for one season before returning to competition. After joining the Dodgers front office as director of player development from 2015 to 2017, he managed six seasons in the big leagues with the Phillies (2018-2019) and Giants (2020-2023).

Kapler was hired by the Marlins in December 2023 and has risen the ranks in Miami.

“It is an exciting time to be part of the Marlins organization, and I am ready to continue the great work we are doing here, alongside Peter and our entire Baseball Operations staff,” Kapler said in a statement. “The growth and momentum we’ve built are a direct reflection of a clear vision, a strong culture, and an incredible team working together toward a shared goal. I’m proud to help continue that progress and contribute to what’s ahead.”

The Phillies’ decision to hire Kapler as manager ahead of the 2018 season was a controversial one in Philadelphia, as the unconventional, analytical skipper with little experience was tasked with leading a club that hadn’t made the postseason since 2011. He had some early blips as a rookie manager, then the Phillies had an surprisingly successful run — until a brutal September collapse ended their October hopes. Philadelphia missed the playoffs again in 2019 after adding big names like Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto, resulting in Kapler’s firing.

Kapler went on to manage in San Francisco, winning National League Manager of the Year in 2021 after the Giants won 107 games. But the team missed the playoffs in the next two years, and Kapler was fired with three games left in the 2023 season. His career managerial record is 456-411.

The Marlins went 79-83 in 2025 to miss the postseason for the second year in a row, but the young team did have a winning record (35-32) in the second half of the season.