Braves Star Bids Farewell To Ron Washington
Former Atlanta Braves coach Ron Washington is off to Los Angeles.
He has been picked to manage the Los Angeles Angels, replacing Phil Nevin.
It represents his first managerial opportunity since 2014.
After leading the Texas Rangers from 2007 to 2014 and taking them to two World Series in 2010 and 2011, he found a coaching gig with the Oakland Athletics from 2015-16.
Then, in 2017, he started writing his own story as a coach for the Braves.
There, in Atlanta, he met a young kid named Ozzie Albies.
Albies made his MLB debut that year and posted a .810 OPS in 57 games.
Washington saw potential in Albies and took him under his wing.
Now, after learning that his coach and friend will be taking a managerial opportunity in LA, Albies went to Instagram to send a heartfelt message to him.
He credits Washington for helping him becoming the player he is today, one with 33-homer power (that was his final tally in 2023), speed, good defense, and a knack for scoring and driving in runs.
Albies thanked Washington for always being there for him and for the support he provided over the years.
Together they won a World Series in 2021, and Washington’s coaching helped Albies secure a long-term contract to provide stability to his family.
One of them is a star player on the league’s most exciting team, and one will be getting an opportunity to manage an MLB team at 71 years old.
Both, however, are winners in life, and true friends saying goodbye for now.
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