11/4/2026 10:00:00 AM | General
BUFFALO, NY – Former University at Buffalo baseball standout Jason Kanzler was named the manager of the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday, the organization announced. Kanzler is a 2013 graduate of UB with a degree in psychology.
A native of Penfield, NY, Kanzler was an outfielder for the Bulls from 2010-13. He ranks in the career Top 10 in program history in six different categories, including hits, runs scored, triples, home runs, stolen bases and total bases.
Impressive, considering he came to UB as a walk-on just hoping for a chance to play.
His coach Ron Torgalski recognized that Kanzler felt overlooked and came to UB with a chip on his shoulder just looking for an opportunity to prove himself.
"The moment Jason stepped on campus; he was determined to show people he could play at the Division I level," Torgalski said. "He went from walk-on to MAC Player of the Year in four years."
Kanzler's best season was in 2013 when he hit .322 with 10 home runs, 46 runs batted in and 20 stolen bases enroute to being named the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year. He was also a standout in the field as he was named to the 2012 Rawlings Gold Glove team.
Following graduation, Kanzler was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 2013 MLB Draft. He played four seasons of minor league ball before joining the Houston Astros organization as a minor league hitting coach in 2019.
He was promoted to the Astros major league club in 2022 and spent three seasons as a hitting coach. He helped Houston win the 2022 World Series.
Beginning in 2024, Kanzler spent three seasons as the director of the Chicago Cubs farm system.
Kanzler's meteoric rise in the baseball ranks comes as no surprise to Torgalski who credits his hard work which began back in his days at Amherst Audubon Field.
"Jason has carried determination, focus and work ethic with him throughout his career from minor league player to major league hitting coach, to Cubs Director of Player Development to reaching his ultimate goal of manager of the Seattle Mariners," Torgalski said. "Never one to back down from a challenge, Jason is the perfect guy to lead the Mariners."
Kanzler will be the 22nd manager in Mariners franchise history.
A native of Penfield, NY, Kanzler was an outfielder for the Bulls from 2010-13. He ranks in the career Top 10 in program history in six different categories, including hits, runs scored, triples, home runs, stolen bases and total bases.
Impressive, considering he came to UB as a walk-on just hoping for a chance to play.
His coach Ron Torgalski recognized that Kanzler felt overlooked and came to UB with a chip on his shoulder just looking for an opportunity to prove himself.
"The moment Jason stepped on campus; he was determined to show people he could play at the Division I level," Torgalski said. "He went from walk-on to MAC Player of the Year in four years."
Kanzler's best season was in 2013 when he hit .322 with 10 home runs, 46 runs batted in and 20 stolen bases enroute to being named the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year. He was also a standout in the field as he was named to the 2012 Rawlings Gold Glove team.
Following graduation, Kanzler was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 2013 MLB Draft. He played four seasons of minor league ball before joining the Houston Astros organization as a minor league hitting coach in 2019.
He was promoted to the Astros major league club in 2022 and spent three seasons as a hitting coach. He helped Houston win the 2022 World Series.
Beginning in 2024, Kanzler spent three seasons as the director of the Chicago Cubs farm system.
Kanzler's meteoric rise in the baseball ranks comes as no surprise to Torgalski who credits his hard work which began back in his days at Amherst Audubon Field.
"Jason has carried determination, focus and work ethic with him throughout his career from minor league player to major league hitting coach, to Cubs Director of Player Development to reaching his ultimate goal of manager of the Seattle Mariners," Torgalski said. "Never one to back down from a challenge, Jason is the perfect guy to lead the Mariners."
Kanzler will be the 22nd manager in Mariners franchise history.
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