Seattle Mariners Name Jason Kanzler as New Field Manager

The Seattle Mariners have officially appointed Jason Kanzler as the team’s new field manager, selecting the 36-year-old to lead the organization following a disappointing 2026 campaign. The move, announced on Tuesday by Mariners President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto, marks the club’s 22nd managerial appointment in history and its 19th on a full-time basis.

Kanzler, who most recently served as the Director of Player Development for the Chicago Cubs from 2024 through 2026, steps into the role with no prior experience managing a team at any professional level. Despite this, club leadership emphasized that his professional background and leadership profile made him the ideal candidate to guide the Mariners back to the postseason.

Our goal in this process was finding a manager with the ability to challenge all of us to improve, Dipoto said in a press release. Jason has the mindset, expertise, communication skills, and intensity to help create a championship standard here in Seattle.

Executive Vice President and General Manager Justin Hollander echoed this sentiment, highlighting the organization’s confidence in Kanzler’s ability to connect with players and front-office staff. Kanzler, who resides in Penfield, New York, with his wife, Ashley, and their two children, expressed readiness to begin his tenure.

This team has an immense amount of talent in all facets of the game, and my coaching staff and I are excited to access and unlock this team’s full potential, Kanzler said

Kanzler Joins Mariners After Coaching in Houston

Kanzler’s path to the Mariners’ dugout includes five years of experience within the Houston Astros organization between 2019 and 2023. During his time in Houston, he served as a Major League Coach during the team’s 2022 World Series-winning season and as an Assistant Hitting Coach in 2023. His previous roles within the Astros system included serving as a hitting coach for High-A Fayetteville and as a minor league hitting coordinator.

Before his coaching career, Kanzler played three minor league seasons as an outfielder in the Minnesota Twins organization after being selected in the 20th round of the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft. A graduate of the University of Buffalo with a degree in psychology, he is also a certified strength and conditioning specialist.

Kanzler replaces Dan Wilson, who was fired on the final day of the 2026 season. Wilson had taken over the managerial duties during the 2024 season following the dismissal of Scott Servais. The Mariners, who reached the American League Championship Series in 2025, struggled through a 2026 season that saw the team finish with a 76-86 record, missing the playoffs despite a roster that features established stars such as Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez.

The search for a new manager saw several candidates considered, including former Houston Astros manager Joe Espada, who was reportedly a finalist for the position. The process also included interest in former Minnesota Twins skipper Rocco Baldelli, who withdrew from consideration earlier in October due to family considerations.

Kanzler was scheduled to hold an introductory news conference on Wednesday, November 4, at 2:00 p.m. PT.

More on this story: Rocco Baldelli Withdraws From Seattle Mariners Managerial Search