History-making Kim Ng leaves her GM post with the Miami Marlins

History-making Kim Ng, former Marlins general manager, is looking for a job.

Kim Ng, the first female general manager in MLB history, is not returning to the Miami Marlins after three seasons with the baseball team.

Marlins chairman and principal owner Bruce Sherman announced Ng's departure Monday. In a statement, Sherman said the Marlins exercised their side of a mutual option on Ng’s contract for the 2024 season but Ng declined her side of the 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."

Sources told ESPN that the Marlin’s intention to hire a president of baseball operations over Ng led to her departure.

Ng's trades and late season acquisitions were largely credited for bringing the Marlins to the MLB post-season for the first time in two decades, The Marlins were swept by the Philadelphia Phillies, three games to none in a best of five series.

“We thank Kim for her contributions during her time with our organization and wish her and her family well,” the Marlins wrote in that statement. “We will immediately begin a thorough and extensive search for new leadership as we continue to invest in the Marlins organization on and off the field. We are committed to our fans and the South Florida community and look to build off the momentum of the great progress of this year.”

ESPN reports that other baseball executives around major league baseball were surprised at Ng's departure since she was largely credited through a series of trades and acquisitions, for bringing the Marlins to the playoffs this year.

Ng made history three years ago when she became the first woman -- the first Asian American woman, at that -- to become the GM of any men's professional sports franchise (MLB, NFL, NHL and NBA).

“I wish to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Marlins family and its fans for my time in South Florida,” Ng told The Athletic. “This year was a great step forward for the organization, and I will miss working with Skip and his coaches as well as all of the dedicated staff in baseball operations and throughout the front office. They are a very talented group and I wish them great success in the future.”

Born and raised in New Jersey, Ng's baseball career began as a member of the University of Chicago's softball team. However, her involvement in professional sports began as an intern in 1990 for the White Sox. The White Sox hired her on a full-time basis in '91, and by '95 she was the club's assistant director of baseball operations. 

She remained with Chicago through '96, at which point she started working for the American League as director of waivers and records, approving transactions and helping with the application of rules.

In 1998, she broke another barrier when the Yankees hired her as their assistant general manager. At 29-years old, Ng became the youngest person in that role at the time. She worked for the Yankees through 2001, winning three World Series rings as an executive. The team made the playoffs in all four years that she worked there.

After the 2001 season, Ng joined the Dodgers organization as vice president and assistant general manager. She worked for the team through the '10 season,

In 2011, Ng joined Major League Baseball as senior vice president of baseball operations, reporting to chief baseball officer Joe Torre -- becoming the highest-ranking woman working in the Commissioner's Office. She worked there until the Marlins hired her in 2020 as the team's GM.

Ng did not mention what her future plans will be. Some sports analysts suggest she may have vaulted to the top of the list for front office positions with the Yankees, Mets and Red Sox.

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Miami Marlins new general manager breaks glass cieling for women

Kim Ng makes history as the Miami Marlins news General lManager.

If the new general manager of the Miami Marlins was a man, the news of the person filling the GM position would only be of interest to sports buffs and Marlins fans.

But the Marlin's new General Manager Kim Ng is making history as the first Asian American woman GM in Major League Baseball.

At 52, Ng has paid her dues with a 30-year career with the MLB, including 21 in the front offices of the White Sox, Yankees and Dodgers.

“All of us at Major League Baseball are thrilled for Kim and the opportunity she has earned with the Marlins," MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. 

"Kim’s appointment makes history in all of professional sports and sets a significant example for the millions of women and girls who love baseball and softball," he continued. "The hard work, leadership, and record of achievement throughout her long career in the National Pastime led to this outcome, and we wish Kim all the best as she begins her career with the Marlins.”

"I entered Major League Baseball as an intern and, after decades of determination, it is the honor of my career to lead the Miami Marlins as their next General Manager," Ng said in a press release. 

Ng, a native of Indianapolis, is the second Asian American to lead an MLB franchise. Pakistani American Farhan Zaidi became the Los Angeles Dodgers GM in 2014 until 2018 when he became the  president of baseball operations for the San Francisco Giants.

“This challenge is one I don’t take lightly," Ng said. "When I got into this business, it seemed unlikely a woman would lead a Major League team, but I am dogged in the pursuit of my goals. My goal is now to bring championship baseball to Miami. I am both humbled and eager to continue building the winning culture our fans expect and deserve.”