Gabe Kapler is back in the National League.
The former Phillies manager was hired to be the new manager of the San Francisco Giants, just a month after being fired by Philadelphia. Kapler received a three-year contract replacing Bruce Bochy, who retired at the end of the season. Kapler is expected to be introduced by the Giants on Wednesday.
Kapler, 44, was hired in October of 2017, inheriting a 96-loss team. He went 161-163 in two seasons as Phillies manager, but Philadelphia improved just one game from 2018 to 2019 despite the acquisition of Bryce Harper and other key players this offseason.
Kapler's overly positive attitude and progressive managerial style was always going to be a challenge in Philadelphia, and ultimately, it did not work out.
From 2014 to 2017, Kapler worked with Giants president of baseball operations Farhan in Los Angeles. Kapler was the Dodgers' director of player development, while Farhan was the general manager.
"Gabe's someone obviously I worked with for three years and got to know personally and obviously know very well from a professional standpoint," Zaidi said. "I feel really optimistic and confident that once our fan base gets to know him, they're going to know the person I've known personally and professionally and be really excited about him as our next manager. There have been some portrayals of him publicly that I don't even recognize."
