Angels Manager Ron Washington Reveals What He's Worked On With His Infielders

The veteran infielders coach is up to his usual tricks in spring training.

At his introductory press conference last November, new Angels manager Ron Washington made one thing clear: he wasn't going to stop being Ron Washington just because he's moving from a coaching role to the manager's chair.

Washington, 71, built his reputation as a baseball coach working with infielders. 

“Just hands. How you use them. How you sync the feet up with the hands. Cutting angles. Just attacking the baseball really. And when I say attack the baseball, that sounds violent, but it’s not. All it is is, when the ball is put in play, you go to the ball and not let the ball come to you. So the word attack sounds violent, but it’s not violent.”

— Angels manager Ron Washington

Washington is famous for helping the Moneyball-era Oakland A's win with Scott Hatteberg, a converted catcher, playing first base from 2002-05. That in part led to Washington's first managerial job with the Texas Rangers.

More recently, Washington coached the infielders on the Atlanta Braves, who have won the National League East each of the last six years, and are generally considered one of baseball's best run-prevention teams.

Given Washington's background, the Angels' infielders would do well to listen. They project to have one of baseball's youngest first basemen, Nolan Schanuel (22), and youngest shortstops, Zach Neto (23). 

Veterans Anthony Rendon, Brandon Drury and Luis Rengifo will also be asked to fill infield roles on this year's team.