Jason Kanzler Takes Over as Mariners Manager

Jason Kanzler has been named manager of the Seattle Mariners, taking charge after leading player development for the Chicago Cubs. The club’s 19th full-time manager previously played in the minor leagues and taught physics and chemistry at a Texas high school before returning to baseball as a coach.

General manager Justin Hollander said Kanzler stood out through the interview process, citing his personality and experience in player development. Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said the team involved more people and asked deeper questions than it had during earlier managerial searches.

Kanzler played college baseball at Buffalo as a walk-on, earning two Rawlings Gold Glove awards, and was picked 20th overall among the Twins’ selections in the 2013 draft. After three seasons in the minors, he taught in Katy, Texas, then joined Houston’s organization in 2019 to coach minor league hitters. He moved onto manager Dusty Baker’s staff in 2022 and assumed responsibility for Chicago’s farm system ahead of the 2024 season.

The Mariners fired Dan Wilson after finishing 76-86. The previous season, Seattle had reached Game 7 of the American League Championship Series. Kanzler said he plans to use data while weighing players’ circumstances and judgment when the numbers do not point to a clear choice.

He praised Seattle’s young roster, including Julio Rodríguez and Cal Raleigh, and said he hopes to build on the atmosphere at T-Mobile Park. Kanzler has no prior experience managing a major league club, as was also the case with the two managers Dipoto hired before him.