MIAMI – Marlins manager Clayton McCullough was announced as an honorary coach for the National League in the 2025 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard, which will take place on July 15 at Truist Park in Atlanta.
Defending World Series champion manager Dave Roberts invited McCullough, who spent the previous four seasons as first-base coach of the Dodgers before receiving his first managerial job with Miami, toward the beginning of the 2025 campaign.
When asked whether he would be returning to his roots and coaching first base for the Midsummer Classic, McCullough said that he planned on sitting next to Roberts, eating sunflower seeds and watching the game.
This will mark the second time McCullough has attended All-Star festivities after he threw to Dodgers superstar Mookie Betts in the 2023 T-Mobile Home Run Derby at T-Mobile Park. While McCullough’s family hung around for that power-hitting showcase, they spent the next day sightseeing around Seattle.
“It's a fun thing to be around the best players in baseball for a few days in a very relaxed environment,” McCullough said. “Everyone competes so hard against each other, but then there also is a part of this gamesmanship. And you certainly appreciate the talent level, the skill level that you get to watch every night on a Major League field, and to have the best come together for the Midsummer Classic, and spend a little time to get to know some players that you don't spend a whole lot of time around.
“And then I think it's just cool for me to have my family be able to go and take part in that and be around that. It's a really cool experience. I'm grateful to have the opportunity to go do something like that again. Anytime you just get to kind of be around the best players in the game and catch up with Dave again for a few days, it'll be fun.”
McCullough might also use his status to campaign for some of his players, in particular outfielders Kyle Stowers (122 OPS+ entering Tuesday) and Dane Myers (137 OPS+), rookie catcher Liam Hicks (124 OPS+) as well as relievers Anthony Bender (171 ERA+) and Ronny Henriquez (133 ERA+).
No Marlin was among the top vote-getters in the first update of the 2025 PRO SPIRIT MLB All-Star Ballot, which is available exclusively online and via mobile devices at MLB.com/vote, all 30 club web sites, the MLB App and the MLB Ballpark App. Phase 1 voting ends at 12 p.m. ET on June 26.
The NL All-Star team will have nine elected starters via the fan balloting program. The pitchers and reserves – totaling 23 – will be determined through a combination of Player Ballot choices and selections made by the Commissioner’s Office. The All-Star rosters will be announced during the MLB All-Star Selection Show presented by PRO SPIRIT at 5 p.m. ET on July 6 on ESPN.
“I might have to send Dave a message there and say, ‘What are you looking for and what you need?’” McCullough said. “We do have some guys that are having some good years, maybe under the radar, but they're having All-Star worthy seasons. … We've had some guys that have had some some good years, but it's a tough team to make every year.”