Mariners Appoint Kanzler as New Manager

Seattle Mariners fans will see a new face in the dugout next season as the team officially hired Jason Kanzler as its manager on Tuesday. The 36-year-old takes over from Dan Wilson, who was let go after the club finished with a 76-86 record. The season ended in disappointment for a group that started with high expectations and reached Game 7 of the American League Championship Series in 2025.

Kanzler has not managed a professional baseball team at any level. He served as the director of player development for the Chicago Cubs, where he oversaw the minor league system, players, and coaching staff. Before that role, he worked on the major league coaching staff for the Houston Astros during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. In his final year with Houston, he held the position of assistant hitting coach.

The new manager will be the second-youngest in Major League Baseball. Only Blake Butera of Washington, who is 34, is younger. Kanzler was selected in the 20th round of the 2013 draft by the Minnesota Twins and played three seasons in the minor leagues as an outfielder. After retiring as a player, he taught high school chemistry and physics in Katy, Texas.

Justin Hollander, the Mariners general manager, stated that the organization believes Kanzler can guide the team back to the postseason. He noted that Kanzler demonstrated elite leadership and an ability to connect with players and staff throughout the hiring process. Kanzler said in a statement that he is thrilled to join the organization and look forward to hitting the ground running.

The Mariners won the AL West in 2025, marking the first division title in 24 years. They finished one win away from their first World Series appearance. The 2026 season, however, was marked by injuries and a decline in performance from key players. Cal Raleigh batted .182 with 23 home runs and 69 RBIs. Julio Rodríguez and Josh Naylor also posted career-worst numbers. The team scored only 664 runs, which ranked as the third-lowest total in the majors.

The Mariners remain the only active major league franchise that has never reached the World Series. Kanzler began his professional coaching career in 2019 when Houston hired him as hitting coach for High-A Fayetteville. He held various positions within that organization for five seasons before moving to Chicago. The team has not announced a specific start date for the new coaching staff, but Kanzler is set to lead the squad in the upcoming season.