The Miami Marlins have once again made a questionable decision in their hiring practices, this time with the addition of former Giants’ manager Gabe Kapler as an “assistant GM.” This move comes after the Marlins forced out Kim Ng, the first female general manager in MLB history, and insisted on hiring a president of baseball operations to oversee her.
Ng had made significant improvements to the Marlins, taking them from a record of 57-105 to 84-78 and securing an NL Wild Card berth. It seemed absurd to suddenly shift to a hierarchical structure after Ng’s success, and many viewed it as a sexist move.
Now, the Marlins have hired Kapler, who had a decent record as the Giants’ manager but only had one winning season and playoff appearance during his tenure. So why are the Marlins so eager to bring in Kapler?
According to reports, Kapler’s time with the Dodgers is a significant factor. Before becoming a manager, Kapler worked as the Dodgers’ director of player development. During this time, he was made aware of multiple incidents involving Dodgers’ minor leaguers and allegations of sexual assault.
One incident involved a 17-year old girl who claimed she was beaten up by two women while drinking with Dodgers’ minor leaguers at a hotel. Kapler responded to this revelation by attempting to set up a dinner with the young girl, her grandmother, and the two players who didn’t intervene. He believed this dinner would “teach valuable lessons to all involved.” However, he did not report the incident to the Dodgers or the police.
Later, the girl claimed to have been sexually assaulted by one of the players, which Kapler denies knowing about at the time he suggested the dinner. The Dodgers did not request the police report and did not discuss the incident further. Two other incidents at the same hotel involving allegations of sexual assault and inappropriate behavior were also reported to have been known by Kapler and his staff.
Kapler’s handling of these incidents raises significant concerns. Instead of reporting them to the Dodgers, who could have then informed MLB, Kapler attempted to mediate the situation himself. It is not the responsibility of a former baseball player to handle such serious allegations. There are trained professionals who specialize in supporting victims and addressing these issues.
During his introductory press conference as the Giants’ manager, Kapler acknowledged that he would have handled the Dodgers’ incidents differently. But simply calling his mom for advice was not the appropriate action. MLB has policies in place that require teams to report incidents involving sexual assault, and Kapler failed to follow those guidelines.
The fact that the Marlins have hired Kapler without seemingly considering the implications of his past actions is concerning. Either they are aware of his history and choose to overlook it, or they did not conduct thorough research into his background. Either way, it reflects poorly on the Marlins organization.
In a time when the sports world is striving to address issues of sexual assault and create a safe and inclusive environment, the Marlins’ decision to hire Kapler sends the wrong message. It shows a lack of understanding and disregard for the seriousness of these allegations.
The Marlins need to reevaluate their hiring practices and ensure they are prioritizing the well-being of their players and the integrity of the organization. The addition of Kapler only serves to further tarnish their reputation and raises questions about their commitment to progress.
