The Seattle Mariners didn’t take long to find their next manager, naming Jason Kanzler the 22nd manager in franchise history. While many people were in the running, including former Astros manager Joe Espada, the Mariners chose Kanzler. At just 36, Kanzler will become the second-youngest manager in Major League Baseball. Only Washington Nationals manager Blake Butera is younger at just 33 years old. His job will be to turn around one of the league’s most disappointing teams last season.
Kanzler has a lengthy track record of MLB experience. While he has never been a big league manager, he has held several positions that should prepare him for the job. He was drafted in the 20th round of the 2013 MLB draft and spent three seasons in the Minnesota Twins minor league system. After retiring, he coached in the Houston Astros organization from 2019 to 2022. He was then hired as director of player development for the Chicago Cubs, where he spent three seasons. But can Kanzler turn the Mariners around?
Why Did the Mariners Pick Jason Kanzler?
The Mariners had several reasons for choosing Kanzler. Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto released a statement praising him for his mindset, expertise, communication skills, and intensity to win. All of these are traits you want to have in a manager. He also has a knack for helping young players develop. He has been credited with the success of players like Pedro Ramirez, Matt Shaw, and Pete Crow-Armstrong. These are some impressive accomplishments to have on your resume.
With the Mariners having several young and up-and-coming players in their system, having a manager like Kanzler will be a huge help. Guys like Kade Anderson, Michael Arroyo, and Lazaro Montes are some of the organization’s top prospects and are already on the big league roster. They also have prospects like Ryan Sloan knocking on the doorstep. Having a manager with a background in player development is huge for these young players. He should be able to help them adjust to the big leagues.
Kanzler can also use his player-development background to help fix some of the Mariners’ underperforming players. Guys like Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez took a step back last season. They were supposed to be some of the most important bats in the Mariners’ lineup, and their struggles were a large reason they underperformed. Since he has done so well in helping young players succeed, perhaps this will work with veterans too. He may be able to meet expectations and help the Mariners get back on track.
Although he was unknown, he could be the one who turns the Mariners around. We could look back on this hiring as the day the Mariners’ luck turned around.
