The Los Angeles Angels hired Ron Washington as their new manager on Wednesday. The hire was first reported by MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, and the team later announced the news on social media. Washington takes over the gig from Phil Nevin, who the team dismissed after one and a half seasons at the helm in Anaheim.
Angels Hire Ron Washington as Manager
Washington is a true baseball lifer. He brings a wealth of playing, coaching, and managerial experience to an Angels team that sorely needs it. Washington was most recently the third base coach for the Atlanta Braves. He served in this capacity from 2017 through the end of this season and won his first World Series title in 2021.
Washington made his MLB debut in 1977, and after three years in the minors, he continued his playing career until 1989. He served as a coach for the Oakland Athletics for a decade, and eventually got his first managerial job with the Texas Rangers in 2007.
The Rangers became perennial contenders under Washington’s tenure. He led Texas to back-to-back AL pennants in 2010 and 2011, the first two in franchise history. While this is no small feat, both trips to the Fall Classic ended in heartbreak. This is especially true of 2011. The Rangers got as close as a team can get to a title without actually winning. On two separate occasions in Game 6, they were one strike away from beating the St. Louis Cardinals, sporting a two-run lead in both innings. Unfortunately, a title simply wasn’t in the cards for Texas. Largely thanks to David Freese‘s heroics, the Cardinals rallied twice, going on to win both that night and in Game 7.
Washington stayed at the helm in Arlington until 2014, when he stepped down near the end of the season for personal reasons. He returned to the A’s, coaching for two more seasons before accepting his position with the Braves.
The Right Move?
This will be Washington’s second managerial job, and the Angels hope he’s the right man to bring them out of the doldrums. The team is currently in limbo, as they haven’t made the postseason since 2014 and superstar Shohei Ohtani is now a free agent. Furthermore, Mike Trout has been the subject of trade talks given the team’s continuing woes. It could take someone with plenty of experience to make the Angels contenders again, and by that standard, Ron Washington is a great starting point.
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