MarinersThursday, November 5
The Mariners introduce 36-year-old Jason Kanzler as their new manager
The SEAtoday team
Mariners fans, meet your new skipper. Jason Kanzler was introduced Wednesday at T-Mobile Park as the club's 22nd manager. He's 36, the second-youngest manager in Major League Baseball, and he has never managed a pro team. He most recently ran player development for the Cubs after coaching for the Astros, including their 2022 World Series season.
The front office had said experience was preferred. General manager Justin Hollander said the Mariners first talked to Kanzler in 2021, and he called him their “white whale”. Jerry Dipoto said the search was “30 days-plus in the making.”
“I’m the right man because I believe that every player and every person can be better.”
Kanzler went from a Twins draft pick to the Mariners' dugout
- 2013Twins draft Kanzler in the 20th round out of Buffalo
- 2019Astros hire him as a minor league hitting coach
- 2022Houston wins the World Series with him on its major league staff
- 2024Cubs hire him as their farm director
- Nov. 3Mariners announce him as their new manager
- Nov. 4He is introduced at T-Mobile Park
Sources: FOX 13 Seattle, KOMO, KIRO 7 News Seattle
- Replaces Dan Wilson, who was not retained after the season
- Third straight Mariners manager hired without managerial experience
- Next up: coaching staff and roster needs for 2027
Kanzler's hire by the numbers
- 36
- years old, second-youngest manager in MLB
- 22nd
- manager in Mariners franchise history
- 30+ days
- of searching, Dipoto said
Sources: KIRO 7 News Seattle, FOX 13 Seattle
Sources: KIRO 7 News Seattle, FOX 13 Seattle, MyNorthwest.com, KOMO