Former Reno Aces manager Blake Lalli lands Miami Marlins’ third-base coach job

Former Reno Aces manager Blake Lalli will serve as the Miami Marlins’ third-base coach job for the 2025 season, the franchise announced Friday morning.

The Marlins will be under the leadership of Clayton McCullough this season after Miami hired him following a stint as the Los Angeles Dodgers’ first-base coach where he won a World Series championship in 2024.

Lalli served as the Aces’ manager in 2021 and again in 2023-24, going 237-186. That included a franchise-record 88 wins in 2023 and appearance in the Pacific Coast League’s Championship Series in 2024. Lalli posted the highest winning percentage (.570) of any Aces manager with more than one season under his belt. He tied Phil Nevin for the second-longest managerial stint in franchise history, with three seasons; Brett Butler had a five-year tenure from 2009-13. Lalli is second in wins in franchise history behind Butler’s 366 victories.

Lalli was slated to return to Reno as part of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ organization if he didn’t land a major-league job, which he was able to secure. Lalli was replaced in Reno by new manager Jeff Gardner, whose hiring was announced earlier this week.

“On behalf of the entire Reno Aces organization, I want to thank Blake Lalli for his exceptional leadership and dedication during his time as our manager,” Reno Aces president Eric Edelstein said in a news release. “His influence extended well beyond the field; his commitment to our team and the Northern Nevada community has been truly inspiring. As he embarks on this exciting new chapter with the Miami Marlins, we wish him nothing but success — he will always be a part of the Reno Aces family.”

The 41-year-old Lalli had a 12-year professional career as a catcher that included two seasons as a player for the Aces from 2014-2015. He played in the major leagues in 2012, 2013 and 2016, logging 32 games. Lalli joins a Marlins team that last season went 62-100, the third-worst record in the majors.