Angels manager Ron Washington will not return this 2025 season due to health issues, The Athletic's Sam Blum reported in June.
Washington left the team indefinitely on June 20 after undergoing medical tests in New York. According to Angels general manager Perry Minasian, Washington had not been feeling well for a couple of days prior. The skipper then decided step away for the rest of the year.
Bench coach Ray Montgomery has continued on as interim manager. In August, Washington then addressed his health issues publicly for the first time, revealing the details of recent heart surgery and him having his eye on a 2026 return.
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
The Angels hired Washington in November 2023. He managed the Rangers from 2007-14, leading the team to American League pennants in 2010 and 2011.
Here's what to know about Ron Washington.
SN's MLB HQ: Live MLB scores | Updated MLB standings | Full MLB schedule
What happened to Ron Washington?
In June, Washington stepped away from managing the Angels indefinitely due to unspecified health concerns. Minasian wanted to make sure the manager was fully healthy before returning to the dugout.
“We’re going to make sure we cross every T, dot every I, and make sure he’s 100 percent before he’s back in the dugout and managing,” said Minasian. “We all know how important this is, but certain things are bigger than baseball, and health is obviously first and foremost.”
Washington was clearly is not 100 percent, deciding to take the rest of the year to recover. Minasian said he was confident that Washington would be back this season, but that will not be the case, as Washington will be away from the team for the rest of 2025.
On Aug. 25, Washington addressed his health issues for the first time since leaving the team. He revealed that he recently underwent quadruple bypass heart surgery, and while he won't return to the Angels in 2025, he is hoping to have the opportunity to be back in 2026, per the AP.
Washington visited the Angels for the first time since his operation on Aug. 25. He had previously been recovering at his home in New Orleans.
“(Doctors) told me by the time I reach eight weeks I could start doing some light work, but my light work was to come up to Texas and be with the team,” Washington said, per the AP. “I feel great, I really do. ... I didn’t come here to work, I came here to be around my guys and have fun with them.”
Washington revealed that "what happened to [him] saved [his] life,” and that he has quit smoking, changed his eating habits and is sleeping better following the procedure, per the AP.
MORE: Updated look at Team USA's World Baseball Classic roster
Who is Ray Montgomery?
Montgomery has been the interim manager for the Angels in Washington's absence. The former has been with the organization since 2020 and has been the bench coach since 2021.