Will Venable, Craig Albernaz Reportedly Finalists For Marlins Manager

Marlins reportedly identify two leading candidates to replace Don Mattingly

Venable, Albernaz have managerial experience at Triple-A level

The Miami Marlins have reportedly identified two finalists for their managerial opening: Will Venable and Craig Albernaz.

Both Venable and Albernaz have experience managing at the Triple-A level, with Venable leading the Oklahoma City Dodgers to the Pacific Coast League championship in 2022 and Albernaz guiding the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp to the International League East Division title in 2021.

Venable, 39, is a former MLB outfielder who played for the Padres, Rangers, Cubs, and Dodgers. He has been a coach in the Dodgers' organization since 2018, serving as the hitting coach for the Tulsa Drillers in 2018 and 2019 before taking over as manager of the Oklahoma City Dodgers in 2021.

Albernaz, 46, has been a manager in the Marlins' organization since 2019, leading the Greensboro Grasshoppers in the Class A South Atlantic League in 2019 and 2021 and the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in the Triple-A International League in 2021 and 2022. He previously managed in the Astros' organization, leading the Quad Cities River Bandits in the Class A Midwest League in 2017 and 2018.

The Marlins are looking to replace Don Mattingly, who was fired on October 5 after seven seasons with the team. Miami finished 2022 with a 69-93 record, last in the National League East.

Venable and Albernaz are both considered rising stars in the managerial ranks, and both have experience developing young players, which is a priority for the Marlins.

The Marlins are expected to make a decision on their next manager soon.