The Seattle Mariners have appointed Chicago Cubs director of player development Jason Kanzler as their new manager, the team announced Tuesday. The 36-year-old becomes the second-youngest manager in Major League Baseball, behind only Washington Nationals skipper Blake Butera, 34.
Kanzler has no previous managerial experience at any level, a rare but not unprecedented move. The New York Yankees hired Aaron Boone directly from broadcasting in 2018, and Boone has led the team to the postseason eight times in nine seasons. Kanzler served as a major-league coach with the Houston Astros in 2022 and as their assistant hitting coach in 2023, after coaching in their farm system. The Cubs brought him in to oversee player development in 2024.
Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said the goal was to find a manager with the ability to challenge the organization to improve. "Jason has the mindset, expertise, communication skills, and intensity to help create a championship standard here in Seattle," Dipoto stated.
Seattle fired manager Dan Wilson after a disappointing 2026 season in which the team went 76-86 and finished five games back in the AL West. A year earlier, the Mariners reached Game 7 of the ALCS and were five outs from their first World Series appearance. Kanzler will be the third manager under Dipoto since he took over baseball operations in September 2015, following Scott Servais (2015-24) and Wilson (2024-26). Former Astros manager Joe Espada was reportedly the other finalist for the position.
