ST.LOUIS, MO - The past 48 hours have been an emotional whirlwind for Miguel Cairo. Suddenly elevated to manager, Cairo faces the challenge of guiding a young, promising team while coping with the departure of his close friend and mentor, Dave Martinez.

Cairo’s words reflect the weight of the moment. “It’s been a rough 48 hours,” he admits. “Losing someone who’s not just a colleague but a best friend and a brother—the person who brought me here to help develop this team and win games—has been incredibly difficult.” His relationship with Martinez goes back decades. “I couldn’t have taken this job without speaking to him first,” Cairo says. “He’s like a brother to me. We’ve known each other since I was in my early twenties, and he’s taught me so much about being a professional.”

When asked what he learned from Martinez, Cairo is quick to highlight his mentor’s passion for teaching and building relationships. “He always worked hard to put every player in a position to succeed. He did everything the right way,” Cairo says. Accepting the managerial role was only possible with Martinez’s blessing. “That’s why I took the job—because he wanted me to continue what we started. If he had said no, I would have gone home.”

With about 70 games left in the season, Cairo’s focus is on consistency and growth. “We have to be prepared to play the right way every day,” he says. “I told the team: come to the ballpark ready to work and compete, no matter what. Win or lose, we have to honor the message and legacy that’s been built here—focus on one game at a time, just like Dave always did.” Cairo acknowledges the team’s recent struggles with fundamentals and is determined to address them. “We’re going to focus on the details and keep working hard. That’s been our message since last year—do the little things better than everyone else. We have the talent and the team to do it, and we’re going to keep pushing to become the team we’re capable of being.”

Managing his first game in St. Louis is a meaningful milestone for Cairo, who played and coached under Tony La Russa here. “That coaching staff, especially Tony, played a huge role in my career. I learned how to play the game the right way, how to handle different positions, and all the details that matter,” Cairo reflects. “Tony encouraged me to pay attention to every detail of the game, to always ask why things happened. Even as a backup player, he was teaching me how to think like a coach.” Cairo remains close with La Russa, whom he describes as “like a father,” and credits his time in St. Louis with shaping his approach to leadership.

Cairo is quick to praise his coaching staff, especially bench coach Henry Blanco and coach Bob Henley. “I have a lot of respect for Henry—he’s been here a long time and will be a great help as bench coach. Bobby brings so much passion and energy, and he knows these young players really well. Having both of them on the staff is a big plus for us.” He also stresses the importance of communication and unity throughout the organization. “It’s crucial that we communicate and have a strong relationship—not just between us, but with the training staff and players as well. We’re all in this together, doing our best to help this team reach its potential.”

At the core of Cairo’s leadership philosophy are three values: communication, respect, and trust. “Those are the three things I emphasized to the team, and that’s what we’ll continue to build on.” Though the transition is challenging and emotions are still raw, Cairo is determined to honor the legacy of those who shaped him and to lead with authenticity. “We have to move forward, and I have to be myself. My goal is to put the team in the best position to succeed and win games.”