Kurt Suzuki Takes the Helm of the Angels: New Challenge in MLB
The Los Angeles Angels have named Kurt Suzuki as their new manager, a decision that marks a significant shift for the team. Suzuki, a long-time MLB catcher, takes on this role without prior experience as a professional coach, with the mission of revitalizing a franchise facing the league’s longest playoff drought.
Suzuki, 42, played for 16 seasons for five different teams, including a 2019 World Series victory with the Washington Nationals. In the last three years, he served as a special assistant to Angels general manager Perry Minasian.
The search for the new manager also considered former Angels stars like Albert Pujols and Torii Hunter, who were evaluated to replace Ron Washington, who was absent for much of the 2025 season due to quadruple bypass surgery.
Ray Montgomery, who took over as interim manager during Washington’s absence, received an offer for another position within the organization, but was not considered for the full-time manager position.
Suzuki inherits a team with notable offensive potential, but with questions in pitching. Shortstop Zach Neto is one of the most complete players in the game, and outfielders Jo Adell and Taylor Ward combined to hit 73 home runs in 2025. Mike Trout is signed through 2030, and catcher Logan O’Hoppe, first baseman Nolan Schanuel, and second baseman Christian Moore complete the team’s young core.
Beyond Yusei Kikuchi and Jose Soriano, the Angels’ rotation is uncertain, and their bullpen presents doubts that affect their prospects in a division where they compete with the Seattle Mariners, who were one game away from representing the American League in the World Series.
Suzuki, who played his last two seasons as a backup catcher for the Angels in 2021 and 2022, received praise for his handling of the pitching staff. He now becomes the fifth manager of the organization since Mike Scioscia ended his 19-year tenure in 2018, following Brad Ausmus, Joe Maddon, Phil Nevin, and Washington.
Under Scioscia, the Angels won their first World Series championship in 2002 and clinched five American League West Division titles in a six-year span, from 2004 to 2009. The 2009 season marked the last time the organization won a playoff game. The Angels have only returned to the postseason once, in 2014, being swept in the American League Division Series by the Kansas City Royals. The 2025 season, which ended with a 72-90 record, represented their tenth consecutive losing season.
The fans have expressed their discontent with Arte Moreno’s management, who has been criticized for getting too involved in baseball operations, not investing enough in player development, and making poor decisions, especially by not trading Shohei Ohtani before he became a free agent and then deciding not to match the contract offer from rivals Los Angeles Dodgers.
Sources indicated that Moreno initially considered Pujols as manager at the beginning of the offseason, but opted for a different direction after negotiations did not progress.
