The Angels have officially named former Major League catcher Kurt Suzuki as their next manager, the club announced Tuesday. The move comes after former Angels stars Albert Pujols and Torii Hunter were reportedly no longer under consideration for the role.
Suzuki, 42, brings familiarity with the organization both as a player and front office figure. He served as a special assistant to general manager Perry Minasian for the past three years and played for the Angels during the final two seasons (2021–22) of his 16-year MLB career.
While Suzuki has no prior professional coaching or managing experience, he has remained active within the organization — attending Spring Training, visiting Minor League affiliates, and participating in end-of-season exit interviews. During his Angels playing days, he was teammates with key members of the current roster, including Mike Trout, Logan O’Hoppe, Taylor Ward, Reid Detmers, Jo Adell, Chase Silseth, and Anthony Rendon.
He also has a longstanding connection with Minasian, who was an assistant GM with the Braves during Suzuki’s tenure in Atlanta (2017–18).
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A Career of Leadership and Toughness
Throughout his playing days, Suzuki was respected as a clubhouse leader and gritty competitor behind the plate. He earned an All-Star nod in 2014 with the Twins and was part of the 2019 World Series-winning Washington Nationals.
He retires with a career batting line of .255/.314/.388, with 143 home runs, 295 doubles, and 730 RBIs over 1,635 games played for the A’s (2007–12, 2013), Nationals (2012–13, 2019–20), Twins (2014–16), Braves (2017–18) and Angels (2021–22).
Drafted in the second round of the 2004 Draft by Oakland out of Cal State Fullerton, Suzuki helped lead the Titans to a College World Series championship that same year. Born in Wailuku, Hawaii, he now becomes the first Hawaiian-born non-interim manager in MLB history.
Coaching Staff and Organizational Shake-Up
Suzuki will now assemble his own coaching staff, with the previous group given permission to seek opportunities elsewhere. He may choose to retain or replace coaches at his discretion.
Interestingly, Suzuki also interviewed for the Giants’ managerial opening, signaling growing interest in him as a potential leader despite the lack of traditional coaching experience.
His hiring reflects a trend among MLB teams embracing former players with limited or no experience, similar to what the Guardians did with Stephen Vogt and the Mariners with Dan Wilson — both of whom have found early success.
End of the Road for Washington, Transition for Montgomery
Suzuki replaces Ron Washington, who took over ahead of the 2024 season but was sidelined in June due to a medical emergency that led to quadruple bypass surgery. Interim manager Ray Montgomery filled in for the remainder of the season, but the club opted to move in a different direction.
Washington was offered a different role within the organization but declined, expressing a desire to manage again. Montgomery, meanwhile, is reportedly considering staying with the Angels in another capacity.
Suzuki Inherits a Rebuilding Club with Plenty of Work Ahead
The Angels are now on their fifth full-time manager since Mike Scioscia’s departure after 2018. Since then, the club has cycled through Brad Ausmus (2019), Joe Maddon (2020–22), Phil Nevin (2022–23), and Ron Washington (2024–25), none of whom were able to turn the franchise around.
Despite showing some signs of progress — improving from a franchise-worst 63–99 record in 2024 to 72–90 in 2025 — the Angels are still a team in transition. They finished:
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25th in runs scored (673)
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28th in on-base percentage (.298)
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28th in team ERA (4.89)
Looking Ahead
While Suzuki’s lack of coaching experience presents questions, the Angels are banking on his leadership qualities, deep ties to the team, and baseball IQ to guide the club through what they hope will be a turning point.
“I love this organization,” Suzuki has said in the past. Now, he’ll have the opportunity to lead it from the top step of the dugout.
