Former Twins Draft Pick Jason Kanzler Named Seattle Mariners Manager

[Cody Christie]

 

The Seattle Mariners are turning to an unexpected name to lead their organization into the 2027 season. On Tuesday, November 3, the club announced that former Minnesota Twins draft pick Jason Kanzler had been named its new manager. The 36-year-old becomes the 22nd manager in franchise history and one of the youngest skippers in Major League Baseball.

Kanzler's path to a big-league managerial position is anything but traditional. Before building an impressive coaching resume, he spent three seasons playing in the Twins organization. Although he never reached the major leagues as a player, his time in Minnesota helped launch a baseball career that has now taken him to one of the game's most prominent leadership positions.

The Twins selected Kanzler in the 20th round of the 2013 MLB Draft out of the University at Buffalo. An outfielder, he spent time with the Gulf Coast League Twins, Cedar Rapids Kernels, and Fort Myers Miracle during his professional playing career. Across 255 minor league games, Kanzler hit .249 with 23 home runs, 109 RBI, and 57 stolen bases. Those numbers might not immediately jump off the page, but Twins fans who followed the organization's minor league system in 2014 might remember one particularly memorable moment.

Kanzler helped the Fort Myers Miracle capture the 2014 Florida State League championship. In the deciding Game 4 against the Daytona Cubs, the teams were tied in the 11th inning when Kanzler stepped to the plate. He launched a two-run home run over the center field wall, giving Fort Myers a 4-2 advantage. The Miracle held on to secure the championship, and Kanzler delivered one of the biggest hits in franchise history.

His playing career ended after the 2015 season, but Kanzler found another path into professional baseball. He eventually joined the Houston Astros organization in 2019, beginning his coaching career as the hitting coach for their High-A affiliate in Fayetteville. He continued moving up the organizational ladder, becoming the Astros' minor league hitting coordinator in 2021.

Houston promoted Kanzler to its major league coaching staff in 2022. He was part of Dusty Baker's staff when the Astros won the World Series, giving him championship experience before reaching his mid-30s. Kanzler remained with Houston through the 2023 season, serving as an assistant hitting coach during his final year.

The Chicago Cubs hired Kanzler as their director of player development in 2024. He spent three seasons overseeing the organization's minor league system, working with players and coaches throughout the farm system. That experience added another important layer to his baseball background, providing him with a broader understanding of player development and organizational leadership.

Now, Kanzler gets his first opportunity to manage at the professional level. He has never managed a minor league or major league team, making Seattle's decision an unconventional hire. At 36, he is also expected to be the second youngest active manager in baseball, behind Washington Nationals skipper Blake Butera. The Mariners finished the 2026 season with a 76-86 record and moved on from manager Dan Wilson. Kanzler will be tasked with getting the organization back into contention after Seattle reached the American League Championship Series in 2025.

For Twins fans, this announcement provides an opportunity to look back at a former draft pick whose baseball journey took several unexpected turns. Kanzler never made it to Target Field as a player, but his time in Minnesota was an important early chapter in his career. From a late-round draft selection to a World Series coach and now a major league manager, his rise through baseball's ranks is an impressive story.

 

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