ANAHEIM, California. Kurt Suzuki will take the helm of the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, according to reports. The former Japanese-American catcher will take the reins of the team, marking a new chapter for the Californian franchise. Suzuki, despite not having previous experience as a coach, has the mission of reversing the postseason drought that the team faces. Suzuki, 42, becomes the fifth full-time manager since Mike Scioscia’s departure in 2018. The former player will take over after the departure of Ron Washington, who left the position for health reasons last July. The new leader was part of the advisory team of General Manager Perry Minasian, and already had a close relationship with the organization, both for his experience as an advisor for the last three years and for having played his last two seasons (2021-2022) with the Angels before retiring as an active player.
“Kurt is a natural leader and knows our culture from within. His work ethic and his experience behind the plate will be key to the team’s future,” Minasian said in the official announcement.
Perry MinasianDuring his 16-season career in the Major Leagues, Suzuki wore the uniforms of the Athletics, Nationals, Twins, Braves, and Angels, participating in 1,635 games and accumulating a .255 average, with 143 home runs and 730 RBIs. He was selected to the All-Star Game in 2014 and was part of the 2019 World Series champion team with the Washington Nationals. Although it will be his first experience as a manager at a professional level, Suzuki is recognized for his leadership and knowledge of the game. He will be responsible for forming a new coaching staff, with the option of keeping some members of the previous group. The Angels highlighted that the decision comes after an exhaustive process in which Pujols and Torii Hunter were also considered, who, like Suzuki, held advisory roles in the organization. With this appointment, the Angels seek stability in management after several changes in recent years and hope that Suzuki can guide the team towards a new competitive stage.
