Former SF Giants minor leaguer transitions into coaching role with Angels

The Los Angeles Angels are rounding out their coaching staff after hiring Kurt Suzuki as manager. According to Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register, former SF Giants minor leaguer Max Stassi has been hired as the Angels catching coach.

Former SF Giants minor leaguer transitions into coaching role with Angels

This will be Suzuki's first stint as a manager. He had a 16-year playing career before moving to the front office as a special assistant to general manager Perry Minasian.

Suzuki interviewed for the Giants' managerial opening, and made a positive impression. However, the Giants went with University of Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello as their next manager.

Similar to Suzuki, Vitello is putting together his coaching staff. He has already made a couple of key hires, including reportedly adding Toronto Blue Jays assistant hitting coach Hunter Mense to the staff.

On the other hand, veteran catcher Max Stassi will try his hand at coaching. He was originally a fourth-round pick by the A's in 2009 out of Yuba City High School in Yuba City, California.

The 34-year-old catcher appeared in 10 seasons, most notably with the Houston Astros. He joined the Angels midway through the 2019 season. Stassi remained with that organization through the 2023 season, and was involved in a couple of trades that landed him with the Chicago White Sox organization in 2024.

Stassi only appeared in five minor league games with the White Sox before undergoing a hip procedure that kept him on the injured list for the remainder of that year. He joined the Giants on a minor league deal with a camp invite last season.

Stassi did not make the club out of spring training, but spent the season with the Sacramento River Cats. Interestingly, his brother, Brock Stassi, had brief run with Sacramento in 2019.

Overall, Stassi posted a .787 OPS with one home run and 18 RBI in 84 plate appearances with the River Cats. He landed on the injured list in May, and did not return to the field before becoming a free agent last week. If Stassi was healthy, there was a good chance that he would have been promoted to the major league roster in 2025. Nevertheless, Stassi will not try his hand at coaching, and this feels like a good starting point.