FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK)—More than a decade after his playing days in Fort Myers, Jason Kanzler got his first major league managing job with the Seattle Mariners.
WINK News went to Hammond Stadium and spoke with longtime team store manager Lynn Izzo about what she remembered from Kanzler’s time with the Fort Myers Miracle.
“I remember him from the 2014 championship team,” Izzo said.
The Fort Myers Miracle became the Mighty Mussels in 2020. When Kanzler wore a Miracle uniform, he helped the team win its first Florida State League title.
In the 2014 championship clincher, Kanzler hit the go-ahead home run in the 11th inning. He played 127 games for Fort Myers over two seasons.
“He was such a fearless player. His uniform was always dirty. He always came in in a clutch,” Izzo said.
Izzo said a coworker told her the news while she was upstairs in the main office. She said she had lost track of Kanzler after he left Fort Myers.
“One of the former Miracle players had been named the manager of the Seattle Mariners,” Izzo said. “And I’m going, who? And he told me, and I go, are you kidding me? I am sure that’s what I said.”
After his playing career, Kanzler spent five seasons in the Astros organization and joined Houston’s coaching staff when the team won the 2022 World Series. He later led player development for the Chicago Cubs.
Kanzler is believed to be the second former Miracle player to manage in the majors. The first was Pedro Grifol, who went on to manage the White Sox.
“We all wish Jason the best,” Izzo said.
His hiring brought fresh attention to the championship run that helped define his time in Fort Myers. Izzo said the staff planned to follow his journey.