The Atlanta Braves have had several great coaches over the years, from Bobby Cox at the top to the bottom of the managerial staff. It is hard to have sustained success in Major League Baseball without strong coaching in all facets of the game, and Atlanta has enjoyed that luxury for quite some time.
With all of the great players who have called Atlanta home during their professional careers, many would not have been as successful as they were without the instruction they received from the coaching staff. Those lessons and relationships that are built over time pay major dividends in a game with as grueling a regular season as there is in MLB.
Ron Washington Steps Away from Current Role Due to Health Concerns
Unfortunately, one of the team's recent coaches, Ron Washington, is facing some medical issues and has been forced to step away from his role as the manager of the Los Angeles Angels for an indefinite period. In his absence, bench coach Ray Montgomery will be taking over and doing his best to keep things afloat until Washington has been cleared to return.
Ron Washington will not manage the Los Angeles Angels tonight due to a health concern, GM Perry Minasian announced. Washington will be in the ballpark while bench coach Ray Montgomery will serve as interim manager. pic.twitter.com/xJJGdoI5ff
— MLB (@MLB) June 20, 2025
Angels GM Perry Minasian addressed the issues Washington is facing and made it clear that he is putting the health of Los Angeles' manager first at this time.
“Wash has not felt great the last couple of days,” Minasian said, via the Associated Press. “We want to make sure he’s 100% before he’s back in the dugout and managing. How long it’s going to take, I don’t know. I don’t expect it to be too long."
With the Angels owning a record of 36-39, they are 7.5 games behind the Houston Astros in the standings. So, needless to say, losing your manager for an undetermined period is not ideal for the franchise.
Washington's health comes before baseball, though. All Braves fans should agree on this, as some things are just bigger than the game. Here's hoping that the longtime third base coach in Atlanta can bounce back from this soon and rejoin his team in the dugout. As a baseball lifer at this point, it is Washington's home away from home.