1990 University of Chicago graduate and softball student-athlete Kim Ng made history in being named the first woman general manager in Major League Baseball history.
From Miami Marlins (Photo Credit: Brett Davis, USA TODAY Sports)
Kim Ng was named the Marlins' general manager on Friday, making history as the first woman to hold the position in Major League Baseball.
Ng will be the highest-ranking woman in baseball operations for any of the 30 MLB teams, and she is believed to be the first woman to be hired as a GM in any of the professional men's sports teams in the major North American sports. Ng is also the second person of Asian descent to lead an MLB team, following Farhan Zaidi, the former Los Angeles Dodgers GM and current president of baseball operations for the Giants.
"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 statement. "We are building for the long term in South Florida, developing a forward-thinking, collaborative, creative baseball operation made up of incredibly talented and dedicated staff who have, over the last few years, laid a great foundation for success.
"This challenge is one I don’t take lightly. 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."
Ng had worked as an executive in the Commissioner's Office since 2011, serving as senior vice president of baseball operations for MLB. She has 21 years of experience working in the front office for Major League clubs -- Ng worked with the White Sox from 1990-96, the Yankees from 1998-2001 and the Dodgers from 2002-11. During those years, the teams she worked with made eight postseason appearances and won three World Series championships.
Ng interviewed for multiple GM positions over the years, and she was an assistant GM for both the Yankees and Dodgers. When the Yankees hired Ng as an assistant GM at age 29, she was the youngest assistant GM in MLB and only the second woman to hold that position.
She has a previous connection to Marlins CEO Derek Jeter, as she was with the Yankees organization during Jeter's playing days.
"On behalf of principal owner Bruce Sherman and our entire ownership group, we look forward to Kim bringing a wealth of knowledge and championship-level experience to the Miami Marlins," Jeter said in a statement. "Her leadership of our baseball operations team will play a major role on our path toward sustained success. Additionally, her extensive work in expanding youth baseball and softball initiatives will enhance our efforts to grow the game among our local youth as we continue to make a positive impact on the South Florida community."