WASHINGTON — Angels manager Kurt Suzuki returned to Nationals Park in uniform on Friday for the first time since leaving the organization after the 2020 season. He proved to be a particularly popular visiting manager.
Suzuki was part of the Nationals’ lone World Series title in 2019 and spent time in the afternoon catching up with old friends who remain in the organization. He and Angels first base coach Adam Eaton, one of Suzuki’s teammates in 2019, received ovations after they were recognized with tribute videos before the opener of the three-game series.
“When you win the World Series, you go through a lot of ups and downs,” Suzuki said. “Lot of downs in the beginning of that year. The friendships that we make and the bonds you build and the memories that you have last forever.”
Suzuki, who logged 16 major-league seasons as a catcher, played his final two seasons with the Angels in 2021 and 2022 but they didn’t visit Washington in either season. He did return to D.C. for the team’s fifth anniversary World Series celebration in 2024.
Suzuki and Yan Gomes split time at catcher in 2019 as the Nationals stumbled to a 19-31 start, but Washington rallied to finish with 93 victories before a memorable October.
“That was definitely not the easiest or the ideal way you would draw it up,” Suzuki said. “But I think that’s what made it more special and that’s what brought us together even closer is what we endured throughout the season.”
It also offered a lasting impression on how to handle a struggling team that he said has proved useful in his first year as a manager.
“To be patient with the process, to be patient with what we’re trying to do here,” Suzuki said. “It took a lot of belief – believing in one another and everybody’s abilities, and I think that’s something in this game goes a long way because this game is built on failure. So you need patience, you need belief, you need trust.”
SCHANUEL SET FOR REHAB
Nolan Schanuel will begin a rehabilitation assignment this weekend with Triple-A Salt Lake.
The first baseman has not played since Aug. 20 due to a right intercostal muscle strain. The Angels are 5-13 since he went on the injured list.
“We’ll obviously take it day by day in the beginning to see how he feels on the recovery side after it,” Suzuki said. “But I think the good news is actually he’s feeling good enough to go out.”
Reliever Sam Bachman (right forearm radial nerve inflammation), who made a rehab appearance for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga on Sept. 4, threw a bullpen session on Friday. Suzuki said his next step will depend on how he comes out of Friday’s work.
Rookie starter George Klassen, who has not pitched since Aug. 24 because of a lower back injury, does not yet have a bullpen session scheduled. The right-hander was eligible to be activated on Friday.
“I think the fact he’s playing catch is a good sign,” Suzuki said.
UP NEXT
Angels (RHP Walbert Ureña, 9-10, 2.74 ERA) at Nationals (LHP Andrew Alvarez, 2-6, 3.60 ERA), Saturday, 1 p.m. PT, ABTV, 830 AM, 710 AM