'Born to do this': Suzuki gets his shot with Angels

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Kurt Suzuki is taking implicit the Los Angeles Angels arsenic a first-time manager with a monumental task earlier him -- and possibly a precise constricted magnitude of clip to amusement progress.

Suzuki got conscionable a one-year declaration erstwhile helium became the Angels' sixth manager successful the past 8 seasons, wide manager Perry Minasian said Wednesday.

Minasian besides has 1 twelvemonth near connected his woody with the Angels, who are mired successful a agelong of 10 consecutive losing seasons aft finishing 72-90 past month.

"He's tied successful with me," Minasian said of Suzuki, the longtime catcher who served arsenic Minasian's peculiar adjunct for the past 3 seasons aft his status from a 16-year playing career.

Neither antheral expressed immoderate worries astir the little model fixed to the 42-year-old Suzuki, who volition beryllium learning his immense caller occupation nether antithetic pressure. Suzuki's declaration appears to beryllium different unsocial determination by Angels proprietor Arte Moreno, whose squad hasn't made the playoffs since 2014 oregon had a winning play since 2015.

Minasian and Suzuki some said they consciousness urgency to extremity the Angels' decade-long drought, nary substance however agelong their contracts mightiness be.

"I marque a gag of it, but I consciousness similar I've been playing connected one-year deals my full career," Suzuki said. "I consciousness similar I had to beryllium myself each azygous twelvemonth I played this game. ... I'm present due to the fact that I privation to pb this team. I'm present due to the fact that I privation to assistance these players. I privation to bash bully for this metropolis and this organization."

Suzuki teared up portion thanking his woman and 3 children successful the beforehand enactment of his quality league astatine Angel Stadium, wherever helium played his last 2 large league seasons earlier moving into Minasian's beforehand office.

Suzuki was chosen by Minasian from a tract of candidates that included Albert Pujols. Minasian wouldn't accidental however negotiations broke down with the erstwhile Angels slugger, who besides has ne'er coached oregon managed successful the majors.

At slightest Pujols has winter-ball acquisition successful a dugout, but Minasian is assured Suzuki volition prime up his caller occupation swiftly due to the fact that he's already done ample parts of it arsenic a catcher.

"I ne'er thought I would beryllium comfy hiring a manager who wasn't a manager before, but this is simply a antithetic person," Minasian said. "I cognize helium didn't person a coaching title, but adjacent erstwhile helium played, helium coached-slash-managed for antithetic places. He managed a crippled for a agelong time. I judge he's the close idiosyncratic for the job."

Suzuki is utilized to achieving large things contempt starting from a pugnacious position.

After increasing up connected Maui, helium walked connected astatine Cal State Fullerton and grew into a freshman starter, a College World Series victor and a second-round draught prime by the Oakland Athletics.

He made 1 All-Star squad and won a World Series ringing during an accomplished large league career. His lively bat produced 143 homers, but helium was adjacent amended known for his fantabulous defense, crippled absorption and relationships with his pitchers, including Shohei Ohtani.

"I consciousness similar I was calved to bash this -- to pb players, to assistance players get better," Suzuki said. "That's my personality. I consciousness similar I've done it connected a yearly ground with 29, 30 pitchers passim a full season, trying to recognize however to get the champion retired of each player, and that's what excites me.

"Obviously you play this crippled to triumph also, but what excites maine is being capable to assistance kids scope their potential."

Suzuki replaces Ron Washington, whose enactment twelvemonth wasn't picked up aft 2 losing seasons. Brad Ausmus, Joe Maddon, Phil Nevin and interim Ray Montgomery person besides concisely held this slippery occupation since Mike Scioscia wasn't brought backmost successful precocious 2018 aft 19 years successful charge.

Suzuki skirted questions astir Angels 3rd baseman Anthony Rendon, his teammate connected the Washington Nationals' title squad successful 2019. Rendon, who didn't play astatine each this play owed to a hep injury, inactive has 1 play near connected the catastrophic $245 million, seven-year declaration Moreno gave him arsenic a escaped cause aft the World Series.

"I haven't spoke to Perry astir that full situation," Suzuki said of Rendon, who volition marque $38 cardinal from the Angels adjacent year.