The Los Angeles Angels fired pitching coach Mike Maddux, bullpen coach Dom Chiti, and assistant pitching coach Darryl Scott on Tuesday. The sweeping coaching changes arrive as the club struggles with the Majors’ worst record at 45-74 and an MLB-high 508 walks issued this season.
The Los Angeles Angels made sweeping alterations to their coaching staff on Tuesday, dismissing pitching coach Mike Maddux, bullpen coach Dom Chiti, and assistant pitching coach Darryl Scott, according to reports from ESPN. The organization moved quickly to announce internal replacements, tabbing Double-A pitching coach Tim Leveque as interim pitching coach and minor league assistant pitching coordinator Michael Wuertz as interim bullpen coach.
Interim General Manager John Mozeliak Explains the Dismissals
Interim general manager and baseball operations consultant John Mozeliak addressed the overhaul following discussions with manager Kurt Suzuki. The timing leaves the club with just seven weeks remaining in the regular season to evaluate its broader pitching structure.
“After spending time discussing with Kurt where we are as a coaching staff and where we want to go in the future, we felt it was best to make a change. With seven weeks remaining, we plan to use this time to evaluate what additional steps are needed to elevate our entire pitching program and best position us for success moving forward.”
John Mozeliak, Interim General Manager
The decision comes amid a turbulent season for the franchise, which also parted ways with general manager Perry Minasian in late June. While the team previously resisted a full fire sale during its lengthy playoff drought, recent months saw a distinct pivot toward restocking the farm system by trading away several veteran relievers ahead of the deadline.
Pitching Struggles and Historical Numbers on the Mound
Despite bright spots—including strong campaigns from Reid Detmers and José Soriano before his trade—the Angels’ pitching staff struggled under the outgoing coaches. Furthermore, Angels pitchers issued an MLB-high 508 walks and rank third in wild pitches with 48, though they managed to strike out 1,064 opposing batters.
Still, the overwhelming walk rate and defensive pressure proved too much for a roster relying heavily on journeyman veterans and a thin farm system.
Respected Veterans Exit After Brief Stints in Anaheim
The dismissed coaches brought decades of major league pedigree to the dugout. Maddux joined the Angels on a one-year deal ahead of the season after leading the Texas Rangers’ pitching staff to a Major League-best 3.47 ERA in 2025 and a World Series title in 2023. His extensive 24-year coaching career includes prominent stops with the Milwaukee Brewers, Washington Nationals, and St. Louis Cardinals.
Scott arrived in Anaheim following six seasons on the coaching staff with the Colorado Rockies from 2020 to 2025. His hiring carried a personal connection to the franchise, as his only major league experience as a player came during a 16-appearance stint with the 1993 California Angels. Chiti returned to the organization as bullpen coach this season after previously serving in the same role for the club from 2021 to 2022, alongside prior major league stops with the New York Mets, Baltimore Orioles, and Texas Rangers.
Incoming Interim Staff Takes Over for the Final Stretch
Leveque steps into the interim pitching role after spending the season as the pitching coach for Double-A Rocket City. He previously spent two decades inside the St. Louis Cardinals organization, giving Mozeliak deep familiarity with his background. Wuertz shifts from his post as minor league assistant pitching coordinator to take over the bullpen duties. An 11-year organizational veteran, Wuertz also pitched eight seasons in the majors with the Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics, logging a career 3.71 ERA.
The revamped staff takes charge with the club sitting 15.5 games behind the division-leading Houston Astros, looking to stabilize the pitching program over the final 43 games.
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