FILE – Los Angeles Angels catcher Kurt Suzuki gestures as he leaves a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning in Oakland, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez, File)
ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Los Angeles Angels hired former major league catcher Kurt Suzuki as their next manager on Tuesday.
Suzuki has spent the past three seasons as a special assistant to Angels general manager Perry Minasian, who didn’t have to look far to find the fifth person to serve as the Halos’ manager during Minasian’s five years in charge.
Suzuki played 16 seasons in the major leagues for five teams, earning an All-Star selection with Minnesota in 2014 and winning a World Series with Washington in 2019.
The 42-year-old Suzuki replaces Ron Washington, who wasn’t brought back to the Angels’ dugout after two losing seasons. Washington missed the second half of the current season after undergoing quadruple bypass heart surgery.
Fickell’s future up in the air
MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin football coach Luke Fickell says he hasn’t been told whether he will be back next season.
Fickell addressed that hours after athletic director Chris McIntosh sent a letter to season-ticket holders saying the school plans to increase its investment in its football program to “provide our coaches the tools necessary to succeed.”
Wisconsin (2-5, 0-4 Big Ten) has lost its last five games by an average margin of 25.2 points and is coming off back-to-back home shutout losses.
“I have not been told,” Fickell said. “I’m not worried about that. I understand if we don’t meet expectations, if we don’t do the things we need to do, anything can happen.”
Wisconsin dropped its final five games last year to finish 5-7 and end a string of 22 straight winning seasons.