The Los Angeles Angels had a very clear idea in mind when deciding not to bring back Ron Washington or Ray Montgomery as their manager for the 2026 season. Right away, Albert Pujols was considered the runaway favorite, with Arte Moreno reportedly not even considering other candidates. But that quickly shifted.
Pujols remained the favorite, but it was reported that Moreno was now looking at Torii Hunter and Kurt Suzuki as well, among other options. But it was clear that former Angels players who had stuck around the organization after retirement was the archetype Moreno was going for.
Then on Monday, Pujols and Hunter were rumored to no longer be in consideration, and that has rapidly led to the hiring of Suzuki to be the Angels new skipper. Jon Heyman of The New York Post broke the news on Tuesday morning:
Breaking; Kurt Suzuki is the Angels choice to manage @nypostsports has learned
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) October 21, 2025
Suzuki has been with the Angels organization since 2021, when he was brought on to be the backup catcher. He played the last two seasons of his 16-year career in Anaheim, before retiring and sticking with the club as a special assistant to Angels general manager Perry Minasian.
Suzuki becomes the sixth person to lead the Angels since Moreno parted ways with Mike Scioscia in 2018. He hopes to do what Brad Ausmus, Joe Maddon, Phil Nevin, Washington and Montgomery couldn’t do, and that’s end the Angels league-worst 10-year streak of being under .500 and 11-year streak of missing the postseason.
