The Los Angeles Angels are stepping into their weekend series opener with a different leader at the helm—and not for strategic reasons.
Manager Ron Washington is stepping away from the dugout indefinitely as he addresses a health scare that surfaced earlier this week.
At 73, his well-being has become the team’s top priority.
Signs of Trouble During Yankees Series
According to team officials, Washington began feeling unwell during the Angels’ recent four-game stint against the New York Yankees.
Toward the end of the series, he appeared noticeably fatigued and had trouble breathing.
Although he was given medical clearance to fly back with the team on Thursday night, he underwent a round of tests on Friday to better understand what’s going on.
General Manager Steps In With Update
Before Friday night’s game against the Houston Astros, Angels General Manager Perry Minasian gave an emotional update to reporters.
He confirmed that Washington is taking a break, and bench coach Ray Montgomery will step in as interim manager.
“Wash hasn’t been feeling great the last couple of days,” Minasian said.
“We want him back when he’s at 100%. No timeline right now, but we don’t expect it to be a long-term situation.”
Still Involved—From a Distance
Even though he won’t be on the field, Washington isn’t stepping away entirely.
He addressed the team alongside Minasian in the clubhouse before Friday’s game and planned to watch the action from the GM’s suite at Angel Stadium.
A Manager with a Deep Legacy
Ron Washington isn’t just another manager. He’s a respected baseball mind who led the Texas Rangers to back-to-back World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011.
He was brought in by Minasian to turn things around after the Angels’ rough 2024 season, which ended with a franchise-worst 99 losses.
This year, the team has shown promising signs of growth, sitting at 36-38 and just 6.5 games behind the Astros in the AL West.
Even more impressive: the Angels lead the majors in one-run game performance, going 15-6, and are undefeated in extra innings.
Team’s Performance Keeps Things Optimistic
While the current standing isn’t perfect, there’s momentum.
Still, Minasian made it clear: no amount of playoff push or locker room energy is worth risking Washington’s health.
“These games are tight, they’re stressful,” he explained.
“You can’t just kick your feet up and watch. I want to know Wash is fully okay before he’s back in that dugout.”
A Pause, Not a Goodbye
Washington is known for his passion and commitment.
It’s unclear if he’s ever missed a game before this, which makes the pause all the more difficult.
But the Angels front office is unanimous—health over hustle.
As the team continues its campaign with Ray Montgomery temporarily in charge, fans and players alike are sending support to their beloved skipper, hoping he’ll be back soon—stronger and healthier.