Former MLB General Manager Kim Ng Has Made History More Than Once
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On Monday, October 16, Kim Ng, the Miami Marlins' general manager and the first female GM in men's Major League Baseball history, announced that she was leaving the team.
The news has everyone in the world of baseball wondering what's next for this industry exec, so if you're curious about Kim's background and how it led to her career as a GM, you're not alone.
Here’s everything you need to know about Kim Ng:
Who is Kim Ng?
Kim is the former manager for the Miami Marlins. She’s believed to be the first woman ever to be the general manager of a major North American men’s sports team, according to MLB.com.
Kim starting playing stickball (and later softball) in Queens, New York, as a kid and fell in love with the sport, per Vogue. Oh, and she's also really good at golf.
How did Kim Ng's career in baseball start?
Kim has been in the game for a long time—literally. She played softball in college at the University of Chicago before starting her career in pro baseball as an intern for the Chicago White Sox in 1990, according to the MLB website.
The White Sox hired her on a full-time basis as a research assistant in 1991, and she became the assistant director of baseball operations for the club in 1995. By 1996, she started working for the American League as director of waivers and records and, in 1998, the Yankees hired her as their assistant general manager.
Kim was just 29 at the time, making her the youngest person ever in that role at the time. After that, she moved to the Dodgers to serve as vice president and assistant general manager, followed by becoming senior vice president of baseball operations for Major League Baseball in 2011. She was hired by the Marlins in 2020.
In fact, former Yankees player and then-Marlins CEO Derek Jeter was the one who hired her.
“All she needed was an opportunity,” he said at the time, per the Denver Post. “Everyone talked about how historic it was, but I didn’t make this decision to be historic. I made this decision because it was the best decision for the organization.”
How old is Kim Ng?
Kim is 54 years old, which means she's been working in the MLB for the better part of three decades.
Why is she leaving the Marlins?
There are a few different things at play in this decision. One is that Kim just finished the final guaranteed year in her contract, according to CBS Sports. The Marlins reportedly wanted to bring her back next year for 2024, but she decided not to rejoin the team.
The Marlins planned to hire a "president of baseball operations" who would work above Kim, and would ultimately take away some of her decision-making power, ESPN reported.
“In our discussions, it became apparent that we were not completely aligned on what [restructuring] should look like, and I felt it best to step away,” Kim told The Athletic.
Where is she going next?
That’s not clear considering this news literally just broke. However, there are some rumors and speculation that the White Sox and Red Sox might be considering her, along with the Mets and Yankees.
Who is Kim Ng's husband?
Kim is married to Tony Markward, who owns a company called Silas Wines, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Kim is actually on the Silas website, which hilariously includes the statement that, “were she not busy trying to build a World Series contender, she could whip the business side of Silas Wines into shape. But the truth is, she is content to enjoy the fruits of Tony’s labor and has a special fondness for the wine we named in her honor—Miss Enna Hay.”
Where is she from?
Kim was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, but grew up in Long Island and New Jersey, according to the Asia Society.
“I was the kid that was perpetually dirty, with scabs on my knees,” she told the organization.
What is her net worth?
Estimates for Kim's total net worth vary online, but Celebrity Net Worth says her salary is $500,000 a year, which puts her net worth around $2 million.
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