A unique path to the dugout
The Seattle Mariners have officially named Jason Kanzler as their new full time manager. He becomes the 19th full time manager in the history of the franchise, and the 22nd manager overall since the team started playing in 1977.
Kanzler has taken an unusual road to get here. He once thought about attending medical school before becoming a walk on outfielder at Buffalo, where he earned two Rawlings Gold Glove awards. The Minnesota Twins drafted him in the 20th round in 2013, and he spent three years playing in the minor leagues. After retiring as a player, he taught high school physics and chemistry in Katy, Texas.
Rise through the coaching ranks
Teaching helped shape how Kanzler coaches players. He entered professional coaching in 2019 as a minor league hitting coach for the Houston Astros. By 2022, he joined Dusty Baker's staff in Houston, winning a World Series in a season where the Astros swept Seattle in the division series.
Before the 2024 season, Kanzler became the director of player development for the Chicago Cubs. Seattle had previously interviewed him in 2021 for a hitting coach role. General manager Justin Hollander explained that Kanzler completely impressed the front office during the interview process, leaving them with no doubt about hiring him.
Fresh leadership in Seattle
This is the third time Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto has hired a manager with no previous managerial experience. He previously brought in Scott Servais in October 2015 and Dan Wilson in 2024. Wilson was fired after the team finished with a 76-86 record this past season.
That outcome was disappointing for Seattle, especially after the team reached Game 7 of the American League Championship Series in 2025. Dipoto noted that the club involved far more people from baseball operations in this search compared to previous ones.
Data and gut feel on the field
Kanzler is known for using data and analytics, but he also values human context and gut feel when making decisions during games. He noted that there will be situations where objective answers are not clear, making player understanding very important.
He is excited to take over a talented young squad featuring players like Julio Rodríguez and Cal Raleigh. Kanzler previously experienced the atmosphere at T-Mobile Park while working with Houston, and he hopes to build an excellent team in Seattle.
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