Former College of Charleston baseball standout Oliver ‘Oli’ Marmol has been named the 51st manager of the St. Louis Cardinals after serving as the team’s bench coach for the past two seasons, club officials announced at a press conference on Monday, Oct. 25, 2021.
With his ascension, Marmol becomes the youngest manager in Major League Baseball.
“This is an exciting day,” Marmol said during the press conference. “I am honored to sit here and be presented with this opportunity. The DeWitt family have built a winning tradition and a rich history here that is absolutely remarkable. For them to trust me as a caretaker of that legacy is incredibly humbling.”
A native of Orlando, Florida, Marmol arrived at the College prior to the 2005 campaign and quickly put his stamp on the program batting .327 with 11 home runs, 49 doubles, eight triples and 102 RBI in three seasons with the Cougars. The speedy shortstop put together easily his best season at CofC in 2007 batting .345 with 20 doubles, seven home runs, 45 RBI and 28 stolen bases to earn a spot on the All-SoCon First Team. His 84 runs scored that spring rank third on the program’s single-season list. He ranks eighth all-time in doubles, triples and stolen bases, and is ninth in runs scored (171).
“Everyone here at the College is ecstatic for Oli,” says Chad Holbrook, CofC head baseball coach. “When a former player and representative of our baseball program becomes a manager in the Major Leagues, all you can say is wow! It just goes to show you that character, work ethic and persistence often get rewarded. Everyone associated with our program could not be happier for him and we know he will do an incredible job.”
