The former Phillies manager has a new home in a familiar place.
Former Phillies manager Gabe Kapler has bee hired by the San Francisco Giants as their new manager, replacing future Hall of Famer Bruce Bochy.
Multiple media outlets reported the news late Tuesday night and the Giants confirmed the reports on social media with a graphic of Kapler in a Giants uniform.
It’s official! Please join us in welcoming our new Manager, Gabe Kapler.#SFGiants pic.twitter.com/YWQWUqp4JP
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) November 13, 2019
Kapler was fired by the Phillies after two disappointing seasons during which they underachieved despite spending big on the free agent and trade market.
In his two years with the Phillies Kapler was 161-163, finishing his second season with a .500 record and only a one game improvement over his rookie season on the bench.
The fit in San Francisco will likely be a better one for Kapler, who a lot of people in baseball still believe can be a solid manager. Kapler was born in Hollywood, went to high school and college in California, and worked in the Dodgers front office with Farhan Zaidi, now the Giants president of baseball operations.
Some in the Phillies organization were still enamored with Kapler, but ultimately, owner John Middleton was ready for a change and the Phillies were able to hire Joe Girardi to get a blend of old school baseball and new-age analytics.
San Francisco is on the borderline of rebuilding and competing after playing surprisingly well last year, finishing with a 77-85 record. They’ll have to replace Madison Bumgarner and deal with the contract of Evan Longoria (who played with Kapler in Tampa from 2009-10), but there’s room for Kapler to mold young players into their own.
The Phillies will travel to San Francisco on April 27 for a three-game series versus their old skipper, and Kapler will make his return to Philadelphia on August 7 for a four-game series.