Kurt Suzuki ended his 16-year playing career with the club Angels in 2022.
Now, three years later, he begins his professional coaching career with the same team, as multiple media outlets report that the Angels are set to hire Suzuki as their next manager.
The Angels have not yet finalized or announced the deal.
Suzuki, a World Series champion with the Washington Nationals in 2019, played for the Angels in 2021 and 2022. After retiring as a player, he served as a special assistant to Angels general manager Perry Minassian.
Suzuki will be the Angels' fifth manager since 2018, when the team parted ways with Mike Scioscia, who led the team to its only World Series title in 2002, after 18 seasons.
He will replace Ron Washingtonwho was coach the last two seasons but missed about half of the 2025 season due to injury quadruple heart bypass surgery. Ray Montgomery served as interim coach in Washington's absence, but was not considered for the position full-time.
The Angels posted a franchise-worst 63-99 record in 2024 after losing Shohei Ohtani to the Dodgers in free agency. They were 72–90 in 2025, their 10th straight losing season.
Born in Wailuku, Hawaii, Suzuki hit the game-winning single to give Cal State Fullerton the College World Series title in 2004. He was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the second round of the 2004 draft and spent his first five-plus MLB seasons with the organization. He also played for the Minnesota Twins.
The Angels were also reportedly considering former team members Albert Pujols and Torii Hunter for the manager position.
Staff writer Steve Henson contributed to this report.
