Veteran MLB Coach Ron Washington Steps Away Due To Health Concerns
Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington is stepping away from the team indefinitely due to a health concern, the club confirmed Friday.
The 73-year-old veteran will not be in the dugout for the foreseeable future, handing managerial duties over to bench coach Ray Montgomery, CBS Sports reported.
Washington is expected to be present at Friday night’s game against the Houston Astros. However, he will observe from a suite alongside general manager Perry Minasian rather than from the field.
Reports indicate Washington has not been feeling well in recent days, prompting the decision to temporarily step away.
In his second season leading the Angels, Washington has helped guide a roster that has outperformed expectations.
Despite a minus-60 run differential, the team has managed to stay close to .500, entering Friday night’s matchup with a 36-38 record. They're just 6 ½ games back in the AL West and two behind the final wild-card slot. That kind of performance has kept the Angels in the postseason conversation longer than most projected.
BREAKING: Angels manager Ron Washington is stepping away due to health concerns.
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) June 20, 2025
Ray Montgomery has been named the interim manager. pic.twitter.com/XSnmMGYfID
Washington, a beloved figure in Major League Baseball, is in his 10th season overall as a manager. He spent eight years managing the Texas Rangers, leading them to back-to-back American League pennants in 2010 and 2011.
After several years as a third-base coach and instructor with the Atlanta Braves, he joined the Angels in 2023 as their manager.
Montgomery, 55, now steps into the role with the challenge of sustaining the team’s momentum. A former big leaguer who played 47 MLB games—all with the Astros—between 1996 and 1998, Montgomery has served as the Angels’ bench coach since 2022. His post-playing career includes time in scouting and front-office roles with the Brewers, Diamondbacks and Angels.
As the Angels navigate a crucial midseason stretch, all eyes will be on how Montgomery handles the pressure and how quickly Washington might return.
For now, the Angels must push forward with an interim leader and hope their skipper’s recovery is swift and complete.
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