Bold headline: Ron Washington makes a comeback—signing with the Giants as infield coach after guiding the Angels through a tough season.
Sam Hodde/ Getty Images
Doric Sam | December 4, 2025
Ron Washington is returning to his coaching roots after a stint as the Los Angeles Angels’ manager. Citing USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, Washington is finalizing a deal to join the San Francisco Giants as their major league infield coach. Washington first broke into coaching with the Oakland Athletics, serving as their first base coach in 1996 and then advancing to infield coach the following year.
The Angels hired Washington to manage the club ahead of the 2024 season, but his first year ended with a 63–99 record. The 2025 season was interrupted after 80 games when he took medical leave; it was later revealed that he underwent quadruple bypass heart surgery and would not return for the remainder of the year. The Angels subsequently announced that he would not return for the 2026 season and named longtime MLB catcher Kurt Suzuki as his replacement.
Washington’s early coaching career with the A’s saw him play a pivotal role in developing elite infielders, including six-time Gold Glove third baseman Eric Chavez and shortstop Miguel Tejada, who earned AL MVP honors in 2002. He remained with Oakland until moving on to manage the Texas Rangers starting in 2007.
After resigning from the Rangers in 2014, Washington returned to the A’s as an infield and third-base coach in 2015 and 2016. He later joined the Atlanta Braves as their third-base coach, where he earned his first World Series ring in 2021.
Now, Washington is set to bring his experience to the Giants, a club that finished 81–81 in 2025 and missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year.
Controversy note: The decision to hire Washington, given his medical absence in 2025, could spark debate among fans and analysts about timing and long-term health considerations for on-field coaching roles. What impact will his health history have on expectations for the Giants’ infield development in 2026 and beyond?
Would you welcome Washington’s back-to-back leadership if it translates into stronger infield play, or do you think teams should prioritize fresher voices after a medical hiatus? Share your thoughts in the comments.
