Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington will be out indefinitely because of health issues, and bench coach Ray Montgomery will manage Friday night´s series opener against the Houston Astros.
Washington, 73, experienced shortness of breath and appeared fatigued toward the end of a four-game series against the Yankees.
He was cleared by Yankees doctors to fly home with the team Thursday night and underwent a series of medical tests on Friday.
The Angels did not specify what symptoms Washington is experiencing, but said the manager was able to address the team in the clubhouse along with Minasian on Friday, and he was planning to watch the game from the GM’s Angel Stadium suite.
‘Wash has not felt great the last couple of days,’ Minasian said. ‘We want to make sure he’s 100 per cent before he´s back in the dugout and managing. How long it´s going to take, I don´t know. I don´t expect it to be too long.
‘We all know how important this is for all of us, but health is more important than anything, and me personally, I´m not letting him back in the dugout until I know he´s 100 per cent OK. I love the guy too much.’
Angels manager Ron Washington has stepped away from the team over health concerns
Washington, who managed the Texas Rangers to back-to-back World Series in 2010 and 2011, was hired by Minasian before a 2024 season in which the Angels lost a franchise-record 99 games.
The Angels entered Friday night´s game at 36-38.
‘He wants to manage-I don´t know if he´s ever missed a game-but at the end of the day, you have to make tough decisions,’ Minasian said.
‘For me, I want to make sure the guy is absolutely healthy, and physically, he´s in the right place before we put him back in the dugout.
‘We play some close games. They´re not the types of games you can sit back, kick your feet up and just watch. They´re pretty tight games, stressful games, and I want to make sure he´s good to go health-wise before he gets back in the dugout.’