Kurt Suzuki Hired As Next Los Angeles Angels Manager

The Los Angeles Angels just made a move that’s either brilliantly bold or utterly baffling—and knowing this franchise’s track record over the past decade, we’re probably somewhere in the middle. Kurt Suzuki is your new manager, folks. Yes, that Kurt Suzuki. The 42-year-old former catcher who hung up his gear in 2022 has spent exactly zero days coaching at any professional level. He’s stepping into the dugout to lead a team that hasn’t sniffed October baseball since 2014 and just wrapped up its 10th consecutive losing season.

From Special Assistant To Skipper

Suzuki has been working as a special assistant to Angels GM Perry Minasian for the past three seasons, which apparently counts as managerial prep school these days. His playing resume? Solid. Sixteen years behind the plate, a World Series ring with the 2019 Nationals, and those final two seasons with the Angels, where he earned rave reviews for handling the pitching staff.

But here’s the thing about catching: You’re already managing the game from behind the plate. You’re calling pitches, reading hitters, and orchestrating defensive alignments. Maybe the Angels believe that expertise translates to the dugout. After all, plenty of successful managers came from the catching position. Joe Girardi, Mike Matheny, and Bruce Bochy all made that leap.

The difference? They had coaching experience first.

The Pujols Problem That Wasn’t

This hiring gets even more interesting when you consider who Suzuki beat out. Reports earlier this month had owner Arte Moreno practically ready to hand Albert Pujols the keys. Pujols, a three-time MVP and future first-ballot Hall of Famer, seemed like the sentimental favorite—especially for a franchise desperate to reconnect with its glory days.

But negotiations apparently broke down. Other names surfaced: Torii Hunter (another beloved Angels alum), Nick Hundley, Ryan Flaherty, Brandon Hyde, and Rocco Baldelli. That’s a pretty solid list of candidates with actual coaching credentials.

What Suzuki Inherits: A Talented Mess

Let’s be real: The Angels aren’t exactly starting from scratch. Zach Neto is developing into one of baseball’s most complete shortstops. Jo Adell and Taylor Ward combined for 73 home runs last season. Logan O’Hoppe shows promise behind the plate, and Christian Moore represents the future at second base.

Oh, and Mike Trout—when healthy—is still Mike Trout. He’s signed through 2030, which means Suzuki gets at least a few more shots at witnessing greatness in pinstripes (well, red and white). The pitching? That’s where things get dicey. Beyond Yusei Kikuchi and Jose Soriano, the rotation is basically a giant question mark wrapped in uncertainty. The bullpen? Let’s just say it needs work—and that’s being charitable.

The Managerial Merry-Go-Round Continues

Suzuki becomes the Angels’ fifth manager since Mike Scioscia’s 19-year run ended in 2018. Brad Ausmus, Joe Maddon, Phil Nevin, and Ron Washington all took their turns trying to crack the code. None succeeded.

Washington, who replaced Nevin midseason in 2023, managed just 135 wins against 189 losses before health issues forced him aside last June. Interim Manager Ray Montgomery went 36-52 down the stretch, and the Angels decided neither was the answer moving forward.

That’s a lot of turnover for a franchise that once won a World Series in 2002 and captured five AL West titles between 2004 and 2009. The last playoff victory came in 2009. This drought could legally drive itself to batting practice at this point.

Can Lightning Strike Twice?

Here’s what gives Angels fans a sliver of optimism: Suzuki was there for the Nationals’ magical 2019 run. He witnessed how a team goes from 19-31 to World Series champions. He caught Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg during the most important games of their careers.

That experience matters. So does his relationship with Anthony Rendon, his former Nationals teammate who is now wearing Angels red. And his reputation as a player’s manager, someone who understands the grind and respects the clubhouse, could resonate with a young core that needs guidance, not gimmicks.

But playing for a winner and managing toward one are completely different challenges. Suzuki will face second-guessing from day one, especially in a division featuring the Seattle Mariners, who just came within one game of the World Series.

The AL West Arms Race

Speaking of Seattle, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: The Angels play in arguably baseball’s most competitive division. The Mariners have a ridiculous pitching staff. The Astros, even post-dynasty, remain dangerous. The Rangers won it all two years ago. Even the A’s are trying to rebuild with purpose. The Angels? They’re trying to figure out if a former catcher with no coaching experience can somehow reverse a decade of organizational dysfunction.

Final Thoughts: Hope Springs Eternal (Sort Of)

Look, stranger things have happened in baseball. Aaron Boone had zero managerial experience when the Yankees hired him, and he’s still there (for better or worse). Dave Roberts was a first-base coach when the Dodgers took a chance on him, and he’s got a World Series ring to show for it.

Maybe Suzuki’s fresh perspective is exactly what this franchise needs. Maybe his catching background gives him unique insights into building a pitching staff from scratch. Maybe—just maybe—the Angels finally figured something out.

Or maybe we’re all witnessing the latest chapter in baseball’s longest-running comedy of errors. Either way, Suzuki deserves a fair shot. The man won a World Series ring and earned respect throughout his 16-year career. Now he gets to prove whether those intangibles translate to success in the dugout.

Angels fans can only hope this gamble pays off. Because if it doesn’t, well, they’ve got plenty of experience watching promising starts turn into disappointing finishes.