Former Marlins star Mike Jacobs to manage LumberKings

Former Miami Marlins player Mike Jacobs has been tabbed as the team’s Single-A skipper for the Clinton LumberKings.

Per Erik Oas of the Clinton LumberKings public relations office, the Single-A team of the Miami Marlins, “Are excited to announce that seven-year Major League Baseball veteran Mike Jacobs has been named Manager for the upcoming 2019 season.”

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Jacobs who was once part of the Marlins parent club will serve as the team’s first skipper during the new era of Miami baseball. Miami ended its contract with Greensboro of the South Atlantic League at the end of the 2018 season.

“We are excited to have Mike Jacobs as our first manager in our new affiliation with the Marlins,” said LumberKings General Manager Ted Tornow. “Jacobs brings a wealth of Major League experience that will translate well with our team as we look to bring home a Midwest League Championship.”

As of now, Jacobs is the only member of the coaching staff to be named to the organization. The remainder of his staff will be announced after the new year. The news regarding Jacobs and his new assignment was not the only news regarding the minor league system for Miami. Per Joe Frisaro of MLB.com on Twitter, other affiliates have a new leader in the dugout.

Triple-A New Orleans welcomes Keith Johnson. Kevin Randel will manager the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp at the Double-A level. Randel was in the  organization last season as the skipper in Jupiter for the Hammerheads.

Randel takes over for Randy Ready, who managed in Jacksonville the previous two seasons and took the ball club the Southern League playoffs in 2017.

The news about Jacobs is just the start for the Iowa-based team. As Oas wrote, there is plenty to get excited about as the new relationship between the minor league team its new parent club takes another step forward.

“He [Jacobs] will become the 57th manager in franchise history. During his playing days, he earned the reputation as a power-hitting first baseman,” writes Oas.“Over parts of seven seasons, Jacobs hit 100 home runs for the New York Mets, Florida Marlins, Kansas City Royals, and Arizona Diamondbacks. Jacobs’ greatest success as a player came with the Marlins in 2008 when he hit 32 home runs and drove in 93 runs.”

Jacobs played for the New York Mets, Florida, Kansas City Royals, and Arizona Diamondbacks. His best season in the Majors was with the Florida-based team in 2006. He played in 136 games while hitting .262 with 20 HR and 77 RBI.