The relationship between Clayton McCullough and Dave Roberts goes back a long way.
MIAMI — Miami Marlins manager Clayton McCullough is putting the finishing touches on his second season leading the organization.
Once upon a time, however, McCullough shared a dugout with current Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, with McCullough getting hired as their minor league field coordinator in 2015.
One of the sport’s most decorated managers spoke with Tyler Boronski in the Dodgers dugout Friday before first pitch about his special relationship with McCullough.
"I learned a lot from Clayton," Roberts said.
Roberts and McCullough’s relationship dates back nearly a decade, beginning when McCullough joined the Dodgers’ organization and eventually worked his way onto Roberts’ major league coaching staff.
Los Angeles named McCullough its first-base coach before the 2021 season, and three years later, he was part of the 2024 World Series championship team.
For Roberts, McCullough’s rise was hardly surprising. The Dodgers manager had an opportunity to watch McCullough develop not only as a coach but also as a leader during their time together in Los Angeles.
McCullough became a trusted member of the Dodgers’ staff, earning a reputation for his attention to detail, preparation and ability to connect with players.
Those special qualities ultimately helped McCullough land his first major league managerial opportunity with Miami.
Now, McCullough is on the other side of the field, tasked with building his own culture in Miami while leading a young Marlins club through a period of development.
The transition from first-base coach to manager comes with a dramatically different set of responsibilities, but McCullough has carried many of the same principles with him.
His experience in Los Angeles gave him a front-row seat to how a championship-caliber organization operates, while his years working in the minor leagues provided an understanding of player development that has become an important part of his managerial approach.
That history also makes his connection with Roberts unique. McCullough was part of a Dodgers organization that won the 2020 World Series and returned to the top of baseball again in 2024.
He experienced the expectations that come with playing and coaching for one of the sport’s premier franchises before taking over his own club. For McCullough, those experiences provided lessons that extend beyond the field.
Now, as he nears the end of his second season managing the Marlins, McCullough is trying to establish that same level of preparation and accountability in Miami.
While his relationship with Roberts began years ago in the Dodgers organization, the two now find themselves on opposite sides of the field — a reminder of just how far McCullough has come since first joining Los Angeles 11 years ago.
