Breaking: LA Angels Hire New Manager

After being turned down by the legendary Albert Pujols earlier this week, the Los Angeles Angels have wasted no time filling their managerial opening, hiring another former Angel, Kurt Suzuki, to be the team's new skipper.

OFFICIAL: The Angels have hired Kurt Suzuki as the Club’s manager. pic.twitter.com/4ZrL2r6hJj
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) October 21, 2025

Suzuki, 42, has been a special assistant to Angels general manager Perry Minasian the past three years, so he's quite familiar with the player pool and the organization. He was a major league catcher for 16 seasons, including his final two years as a player in Anaheim.

He has no previous professional managing or coaching experience, but he was known as a clubhouse leader during his career, and several of the Angels' current players were teammates of his during his go-round with the team in 2021 and '22, including Mike Trout, Logan O’Hoppe, Taylor Ward, Reid Detmers, Jo Adell, Chase Silseth and Anthony Rendon.

Suzuki was an All-Star in 2014, and a World Series winner with the Washington Nationals in 2019.

Ron Washington, 73, was the official Angels manager in 2025, though he was placed on season-ending medical leave on June 20, forced to undergo a quadruple bypass heart surgery 10 days later. Ray Montgomery served as interim manager, but both were let go after the season.

Suzuki will have his hands full in his new role, as the Angels finished the year 72-90, their 10th straight losing season.