Major League Baseball's Miami Marlins have hired Kim Ng as the team's General Manager. She became the first female GM of the four major North American men's sports. She is the second person of Asian descent to lead a team, along with Farthan Zaidi, the current president of baseball operations for the San Francisco Giants and former Dodgers GM.
"When I got into this business," commented Kim NG, "it seemed unlikely a woman would lead an MLB team, but I dogged in the pursuit of my goals."
Prior to the landing the position with the Marlins, Ng was serving as the highest-ranking female officer in MLB’s Office of the Commissioner.
MLB Commissioner Robert D. Manfred commented her hiring by the Miami Marlins: "All of us at Major League Baseball are thrilled for Kim and the opportunity she has earned with the Marlins. Kim’s appointment makes history in all of professional sports and sets a significant example for the millions of women and girls who love baseball and softball. The hard work, leadership, and record of achievement throughout her long career in the National Pastime led to this outcome, and we wish Kim all the best as she begins her career with the Marlins."
She was also a member of USA Softball Board of Directors. USA Softball tweeted its congratulations to her.
Ng's Profile
Ng was born in Indianapolis (Indiana) on 17 November 1968. Her father, a financial analyst, was born in America in a family of Chinese descent. Her mother, a banker, was born in Thailand and was also of Chinese descent.
Ng had an early interest in sports. She played stickball and turned to softball while attending the Ridgewood High School in New Jersey. She was an MVP infielder at the University of Chicago, where she graduated in public policy in 1990.
Her career as a baseball operations official began with an internship with the Chicago White Sox. She was hired full time in 1991 and was promoted to Assistant Director of Baseball Operations under General Manager Ron Schueler in 1995.
She was not yet 30 when General Manager Brian Cashman hired her as his assistant with the New York Yankees. She became one of four women ever to hold the position. The other three were Elaine Weddington Steward and Raquel Ferreira (Boston Red Sox) and Jean Alterman (New York Yankees).
She joined the Los Angeles Dodgers as vice president and assistant general manager in 2001. She interviewed for the General Manager position with the Dodgers in 2005. She left Los Angeles in 2011 when she was named senior vice president of baseball operations for Major League Baseball.
Forbes ranked Kim Ng No. 13 on its list of the most influential minorities in sports in 2015 and No. 5 on its list of the most powerful women in sports in 2017.
Ng lives with her husband Tony Markward in the State of New York.
