The Giants are hiring former Rangers/Angels manager and former Athletics/Braves coach Ron Washington as their infield coach for the upcoming season, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reports.
Washington, 73, was a first base coach, third base coach and infield coach with the Athletics from 1996 to 2006. He left the A’s for an eight-year stint as the manager for the division-rival Rangers, guiding Texas to consecutive World Series appearances in 2010-11 — though the Rangers ultimately fell short in both instances. The Giants won a 4-1 World Series in 2010, and Washington’s Rangers fell to the Cardinals in a seven-game classic in 2011. One of the key factors in that 2010 World Series was then-rookie catcher Buster Posey, who’s now San Francisco’s president of baseball operations.
After his run as the Rangers’ skipper, Washington returned to Oakland for the 2015-16 seasons, stepping back into his old role of third base coach. The Braves interviewed Washington for their managerial vacancy in the 2016-17 offseason and were impressed enough to hire Washington to the coaching staff despite ultimately giving the skipper’s role to Brian Snitker. Washington spent seven seasons in Atlanta as third base and infield coach, winning a World Series ring in 2021, before being hired as the new Angels manager in the 2023-24 offseason.
Washington’s time in Anaheim would only last one-plus seasons. The 2024 Halos lost 99 games and finished in last place in the AL West. In 2025, Washington only managed 74 of the team’s 162 games. He stepped away from the club due to health reasons in mid-June and revealed a couple months later that he’d undergone a quadruple bypass procedure. Bench coach Ray Montgomery took over for him on an interim basis. Washington had said he hoped to return to his managerial post with the Angels in 2026, but the team opted to make a change and hire someone from the opposite end of the experience spectrum: former big league catcher Kurt Suzuki, who’ll be in his first year as a coach or manager next season.
This will be Washington’s 21st overall as a major league coach. Add in his decade of managerial experience, and Washington has spent more than 30 years as one of the game’s most respected coaching/managerial minds. He’ll inherit a pair of talented defenders on the left side of the infield in Matt Chapman and Willy Adames, but Washington will be a vital piece of the puzzle as the Giants continue familiarizing Rafael Devers and young slugger Bryce Eldridge with the intricacies of first base. He’ll also give new skipper Tony Vitello an experienced ear on which to rely as he makes the transition from college ball to managing at the professional level.
Welcome aboard wash
Flawed guy, but boy he loves the game, gotta root for Washington
How eaxactly is he flawed? Certainly not in a baseball sense
@tangerinepony
Well, I’m sure like many people, when I think Ron Washington, I think failed cocaine test.
Sadler: Yeah, our society in general looks mostly at a person’s worst attributes, actions & decisions over the positive aspects they have or success they achieve. Unfortunately I’m guilty of this at times as well. Dwight Gooden = ROY, Cy Young winner, World Series winner but in my opinion he’s simply a fool for snorting his (HOF trajectory) career away. All of us have our vices, it’s just a matter if we admit them & try to turn away from them or not.
Perfect spot and role for him.
The Giants will be an exciting team to watch next year.
Someone has to teach Devers how to play 1B. It’s very hard.
What about the Fans?
Maybe I teach some of them?
It’s not that hard, Rafael.
That’s what she said.
Its extremely hard. Tell him, Wash.
Zac – That wouldn’t require Washington, it would require a nutrition coach.
.992 fielding percentage on 237 Total Chances (2025)
Rafi has been much better at 1b than advertised. I’m guessing he’s slightly ABOVE average with the glove.
Surprised Atlanta didn’t bring him back.
I was hoping they would.
I was also.
Can he pitch though ?
No, but he can improve your infielders defense making your pitching more effective. You think hiring Ron Washington has any effect on bringing on a pitcher or something?
No. Too early to be thinking. This is the time of day I just blurt out nonsense.
Carry on.
Hey there, Mr. Candyman, my nose is empty
weak take
How ’bout I have some of that co-caine
How ’bout you didn’t get enough attention as a child.
Hi Bill Nill. This is for you:
3“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
Matthew 7:3-5
You do realize I’m quoting a Norm MacDonald bit, yes?
Sure but let the whole cocaine thing go. That was in his past and I’m sure he’s moved on.
…and why would you think anyone would recognize a Norm MacDonald skit?
Why didn’t you bring me a big rock Mr Candyman
Bill Nill
If you are going to mock former drug use, at least make it more subtle and funnier, like:
Wishing SF a White Christmas.
Don’t worry, he is showing his feminine side by “powdering” his nose. He should be good now
73 wow. The coach that keeps on coaching.
What was Rick James famous quote?
She’ll never let your spirits down once you get her off the street?
Love this guy. He will make a difference!
What’s his wRC+ and DRS for his career?
Old York- My guess is that teams he was a defensive coach his teams DRS improved by, how much I would love to know. wRC+ ??? I am a Washington fan and as an Angels fan, I think he has a positive effect on players in general. Although he will not be managing this time, in games he was the manager in 25 the Angels were improving as the season went on. He ended just 2 games under 500. But in 1 run games, 2 run games,
extra innings, come from behind games, The Angels were among the best in baseball. His record in games against teams that made the playoffs in 25 has to be amazing just based off memory. I have not added it up yet, but it has to be pretty good
Quad bypass and he still wants to man the infield box. Good for Wash, what a Lifer. Best of luck.
@macgromit. Washington loves to coach, unfortunately with his health problems his manager days are over. Dude can still get every ball with the waffle glove.
Another bad decision by Posey although I guess at least hard for Washington to be as bad in this role as he was as manager.
What you’ve just said was one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
Manfred: Couldn’t have said it better. Idiotic and lazy response by someone we’ll Never Remember.
False. This is a great hire, finally putting a guy with actual managerial experience with Vitello. He’s also familiar with Chapman from his minor league days with Oakland
Never Remember: Yeah, your username seems to fit. He was such a terrible manager. He took his teams to the World Series 4x and winning 1 of them. Granted, his last full season was terrible but his overall managerial career has been pretty solid.
“Never Remember” is such an awful, awful troll. Mutes people too so he can spew crap without getting directly called out for it. Truly awful.
Washington never managed a team to a World Series title
He did get a ring in 2021 as a member of the Atlanta Braves coaching staff
@prospect. Also the angels were a game away from .500, and tanked when he went on medical leave. They weren’t ever going to WS but he brought out the best of them.
I agree Rex. I think that Wash was a difference maker and that he had a positive impact on Adell. I also understand the reason for cutting ties but I believe that he was solid.
He took his team to the World Series 2x never winning, not 4x
Even last year when Washington was manager, they were only 2 games under 500. Among the best in baseball in 1 run, extras and come from behind. I don’t think any team that made the playoffs in 25 can say the games against the Angels was not a challenge. The Angels were strange team this year. They could not beat the weak teams but played well against the best. They also played well against the best pitchers. Rarely losing to one.
His last season with the perennially bad Angels, when he was suffering from poor health, is of no concern. He’s a great baseball mind, loves the game, respected by all. Any team with Washington coaching in any role gets better.
“Another bad move by Posey” is a confession from a closeted Dodger fan.
I’ve been a Giants fan since´1951 and I think it is a “bad” move in that it is meaningless. This is just for Vitello’s sake, not for the team. I think Buster is hoping that Wash’s MLB experience can enter Vitello’s head by osmosis or something. Still waiting for BOBO’s first good move.
Wash is very likely to make any team better. Giants fans comments just scream depression
One of the best infield coaches ever. Good hire.
Mattingly would of been the right choice.
Read Chapter Eight, Scott Hatteberg, Picking Machine, from Michael Lewis’s “Moneyball” if you haven’t done so recently. Wash is a genius infield coach and a great motivator.
Washington is a great hire by the Giants. Who better to work with developing Devers & Eldridge defense at 1B – and Schmitt & Koss at 2B (and any other 2B candidate)
This is a top notch hire by the Giants.
Great move, white Sox missed this hardworking coach.
Good move. Always liked him. Glad he’s healthy enough to do this.
Fing Ron. I enjoyed watching him last year, as he gave away game after game after the all star break. Great company man I guess
Giants land Ron Washington as infield coach and just like that, the infield gets serious.
Nobody drills fundamentals like Wash. He turned routine grounders into gold gloves in Atlanta, and now he brings that same fire to San Francisco.
Too bad the Angels couldn’t lock him in. He wanted to keep managing, but the front office had other ideas. Another missed opportunity in Anaheim. While the Giants get sharper, the Halos are still searching for direction.
One team just got better. The other? Still figuring it out.
Can’t Soler be a big bat off the bench. Geez. Guys get hurt. Jorge comes up big in plaoff time. With the new pitching and hitting coaches, everyone just got better. Maybe, maybe, maybe. Wouldn’t a Zac gallen be worth the money. Can’t Dana Caden, pitch as good as Hendricks did. Can’t nelson rada take over center. Really, can trout play outfield and still get 500 at bats. I guess Johnny Washington never talked to Logan about his biggest hitting trouble, stepping in the bucket. The 63 angels were very young. Young and hungry works well.
First Half (April–June): O’Hoppe flashed the same pop we saw in 2024—he was part of a six-game win streak in May where he mashed four homers.
Second Half (July–Sept): His slash line cratered. He finished the season hitting just .213 with a .629 OPS, and his production tailed off sharply in the final months.
Games Played: He appeared in 119 games, down from 136 in 2024. That’s still a heavy load for a young catcher, especially one expected to carry offensive weight.
The Catcher’s Grind
Catching is brutal. You’re squatting 100+ times a game, taking foul tips off the mask, managing pitchers, and still expected to hit like a corner infielder. It’s no surprise that many catchers fade late in the year—especially younger ones still adjusting to the grind. his legs were probably fatigued.
If you can’t tell a person where to get off, they got you. I remember when I was 25 and over I bottle of wine, I told my dad, that he needed to mind his own business. That wasn’t easy., you know, especially with big authority figure. Alcohol the poison, has some benefit there, but no real benefit anywhere. If you are shy, take a public speaking class. If you are real shy, take an acting class. I am 73 now, and only because I quit drinking 20 years ago. Thc allowed
Alcholocs are hooked because of a sugar addiction, fueled by alcohol that turns to sugar. In aa they tell you for your craving to eat a candy bat. Still the chronic addiction pursues. So I kicked my sugar addiction after my alcohol addition. THC allowed
Bar
Don’t go.
You’re 20 years sober !
I always thought that fielding metrics and perspective on their performance were tied to the pitching staff. Interested to hear what others think.
Better pitching staff = less hard hit balls, more balls in play going to/near where the fielders are positioned. That equals better performance and fielding metrics. Say what you will about bad fielding, but the pitcher initiates all encounters.
Looking at 2025 and other years, high correlation between low staff ERA and great fielding performance. Even more so than errors – Boston led AL with 116 errors but team ERA was 5th, so their zone stats were good to excellent.
I honestly don’t think fielding moves the needle unless you are one of the top 3-4 teams or one of the bottom 3-4 teams. If Mark Reynolds is playing 3B every day (he was a butcher) you have a problem and he’s making the team worse. But for the majority, I’d rather have a mediocre fielder who might cost/not save 5-10 runs in the field but will produce 50 more runs with his bat.
Pursue the run production and also limit runs against you with your pitching staff, and a lot of the fielding will take care of itself.
Bottom line, its overemphasized, but I guess if you don’t pursue fundamentals and get a good infield coach like this, you become a bottom 3-4 team and your needle moves – its also one of the very fixable items for low cost.
Great hire.
The Giants have improved dramatically.
“Wash give me your fungo bat!”
Why?
“I’m going to throw it at Ohtani for hitting a homer!”
I would think he would be invaluable as a bench coach. Don Zimmer Was one hell of a bench coach for joe torre.Surprised they didn’t go that route for the true rookie ML manager
The Angels blew it by not bringing him back. I’ll be happy to watch the Giants this year, the Angels, not so much as long as Arte owns the team. He hasn’t a clue on how to run a MLB team.. He keeps switching partners every year hoping to find a better dancer.
Yeah liked to have seen the RW back as Angels Manager. But I don’t think the Maddux thing would happened. In that case everything being equal at this point in time I rather have Maddux as our PC
It’s incredibly hard
I’d like to see a Wash movie staring Denzel. If you do the story right there’s a compelling movie.
Nobody does septuagenarians like the Giants.
Vitello has Washington Bochy and Baker in the house! That’s absolutely huge for a first time MLB manager, I think this is a pretty brilliant move and bodes well for Vitello adjusting to the league. Posey isn’t playing.
From what I’ve heard, the players love Washington everywhere he’s coached and managed. So, good get.
Great hire. Bruce Bochy, Dusty Baker, Ron Washington. The Giants are surrounding the inexperienced Vitello with decades of experience, not to mention numerous WS appearances by those 3. And Barry Bonds as an informal advisor. All these guys are going to help immensely. I really do like what Posey is doing. Let’s get a few more roster upgrades and then play ball.
What the Giants have is 3 potential replacements if Vitello can’t manage a MLB team
I don’t see any of the three ever managing again. Not necessarily because they can’t but more because of them not wanting to.
I’m sure Wash does
smart move, Buster👌
The Dodgers and Padres better watch out, cause the Giants are likely on the verge of contending again!
Ha ha. Wasn’t expecting that one. Ron loves it.
The Redsox infield defense has been atrocious for the past few years…..I would LOVE to have this guy as a coach. Good move S.F..
Rumor has it that Washington wanted a role between the lines…