Marlins Manager Clayton McCullough says team happy to ‘play the underdog role’

by | Feb 18, 2025

The Miami Marlins joined many other Major League Baseball teams that started Spring Training on Monday.

Expectations are not high for the team this season. According to MLB.com, FanGraphics gives the Marlins 1.5% odds of making the postseason, predicting a 71-91 record for the Marlins. It would be a nine-win improvement from 2024.

CLICK HERE to watch Clayton McCullough’s full interview

New manager and ECU alum Clayton McCullough said he’s not focused on that.

“I try not to get too caught up in what’s being said outside,” new manager Clayton McCullough said. “We’re going to focus on our building and inside, and what we have going and what we need to do to try to get better. And you know what, let people not talk about us. We’ll more than [happily] play the underdog role and just go and do our thing and not worry so much about what people’s expectations are of us.”

Fellow ECU alum Connor Norby feels the same.

““We’re super young, we’re super hungry,” Norby said. “ … It’s going to be a group I think people are going to be excited to watch play, because they’re going to play hard and we’re going to put up tough at-bats. We’re going to be tough outs, and we’re going to play defense well and we’re going to pitch the ball well.”

Click here to read more from MLB.com.

 

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