Clayton McCullough’s final in-game interview of the season took a turn that felt more like a family room than a Major League dugout on Saturday in Miami.
A Surprise Call From Home
During the bottom of the third inning, Marlins.TV broadcaster Kyle Sielaff asked the second-year Miami manager to turn toward the monitor. Waiting there were McCullough’s three children — Kyle, Carson and Quinn — ready with questions for their dad.
The manager played along immediately when his son introduced himself.
“I’m Kyle,” McCullough said, drawing laughs from both the booth and the dugout before his son continued with a two-part question.
- First, Kyle asked McCullough to name his favorite moment from the season.
- Then he wanted to know what his father most wanted to do with the family during the offseason.
The Play McCullough Will Remember
McCullough did not need much time to settle on his favorite play of the year. He pointed to Xavier Edwards’ alert, game-ending double play against the Dodgers in Los Angeles on April 29.
It was the kind of answer that fit a manager’s season: a sharp baseball decision in a big spot, made by a player who stayed locked in until the final out.
An Offseason Built Around the Kids
The second question brought the more personal answer. Baseball’s calendar can keep managers and players away from home for long stretches, and McCullough said he is looking forward to reclaiming those ordinary family routines once the season ends.
- Taking the children to school.
- Picking Kyle up after baseball practice.
- Watching Quinn at soccer games.
- Being present for Carson’s cheerleading events.
As the inning wrapped up, young Kyle earned praise from longtime broadcaster Tommy Hutton, along with high fives for a job well done. For a few minutes, the Marlins dugout had room for one more kind of late-season baseball memory — the family kind.
