American League Manager of the Year: Bruce Bochy, Texas Rangers
The Texas Rangers’ new skipper isn’t new to baseball at all. Bochy spent nine seasons as a backup catcher in the majors before joining the coaching ranks. As a manager, he has managed 4,032 games (2,003 wins and 2,029 losses). He also won the National League Manager of the Year award in 1996 while with the San Diego Padres and greater still led his San Francisco Giants to three World Series titles in 2010, 2012, and again in 2014.
After a three-year retirement from the game, Bochy is ready to get back in the dugout and compete at the highest level. He inherits a team that is on the rise. Part of that is because of the depths that the Rangers had descended to, but also because of the rebuilding efforts of GM Chris Young.
After a dismal 2021 season, the Texas Rangers looked to improve greatly last year. There was tremendous improvement everywhere but, in the win-loss, columns. An astounding 35 one-run losses led to a putrid 68-94 record in 2022.
Bochy’s presence is going to help the Rangers in 2023. The revamping of the starting rotation, headlined by Jacob deGrom, will help even more. Bochy is in a great spot to take the Rangers to a much better season and perhaps even contend for a Wild Card spot. Rangers fans will be happy with Bochy winning the Manager of the Year award in 2023, but will be even happier in the near future if he can get that elusive, franchise first World Series ring.