The Mariners went with a wild card for their new manager in 2027.
Jason Kanzler was named Seattle’s new manager on Tuesday, despite having no experience as a manager at any level and having a relatively short coaching career.
The 36-year-old spent the past three years serving as the director of player development for the Cubs, where he oversaw the franchise’s minor league system, players and coaches.
He also had minor league coaching stint with the Astros during the 2022-23 season which included the organization’s 2022 World Series title. In 2023, he served as assistant hitting coach and pushed the Astros offense to average 4.55 runs per game, which ranked third in the American League.
“Our goal in this process was finding a manager with the ability to challenge all of us to improve,” Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said in a statement. “Jason has the mindset, expertise, communication skills, and intensity to help create a championship standard here in Seattle.”
Kanzler will be the second-youngest manager in MLB, following 34-year-old Nationals manager Blake Butera, who was 33 at the time of hiring.
He will be the 22nd manager in the club’s history and the third under Dipoto, who is entering his 12th season in the role.
The Penfield, N.Y. native is replacing Dan Wilson, who was out of the job after the Mariners went 76-86 in one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history.
Wilson was fired following the season finale against the Angels — just a year after he led Seattle to the AL West title and to Game 7 of the ALCS.
“I am thrilled to join the Mariners organization and I’m looking forward to hitting the ground running,” Kanzler stated. “This team has an immense amount of talent in all facets of the game, and my coaching staff and I are excited to access and unlock this team’s full potential.”
Kanzier was reportedly a finalist among former Astros manager Joe Espada, who went through a third and final round of interviews last week.
Prior to joining the Astros, Kanzler was a hitting coach for High-A Fayetteville in 2019 and a minor league hitting coordinator in 2021.
The former outfielder played three minor league seasons with the Twins organization from 2013-15. He was drafted by the organization in the 20th round of the 2013 first-year player draft out of the University of Buffalo.
Kanzler batted .249 with a .720 OPS across 255 career games between Class-A and High-A.
He lives with his wife, Ashley, and their two children.
The Mariners open up their spring training with a game against the Padres on Feb. 19 at Peoria Sports Complex in Arizona.
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