Don Wakamatsu is a former Major League Baseball player and coach who has had a successful career in the sport. He was born on February 22, 1963, in Hood River, Oregon, and grew up in the Seattle area. Wakamatsu played college baseball at Arizona State University, where he was a catcher and helped lead the team to the College World Series in 1984.
After college, Wakamatsu was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 11th round of the 1985 MLB draft. He played in the minor leagues for several years before making his major league debut with the Chicago White Sox in 1991. Wakamatsu played for several teams during his career, including the Anaheim Angels, Kansas City Royals, and Oakland Athletics. He was primarily a backup catcher and played in a total of 18 major league games.
After retiring as a player, Wakamatsu began his coaching career. He worked as a minor league manager and coach for several years before being hired as the bench coach for the Texas Rangers in 2003. Wakamatsu was promoted to third base coach in 2004 and helped the Rangers win their first division title in 10 years in 2010.
In 2008, Wakamatsu was hired as the manager of the Seattle Mariners, becoming the first Asian-American manager in MLB history. He led the Mariners to an 85-77 record in his first season, a significant improvement over their 61-101 record the previous year. Wakamatsu was known for his strong leadership and ability to connect with his players, and he was praised for his work with young players like Ichiro Suzuki and Felix Hernandez.
Wakamatsu was fired by the Mariners in August 2010 after a disappointing season, but he quickly found a new job as the bench coach for the Toronto Blue Jays. He also worked as a coach for the Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees before being hired as the bench coach for the Texas Rangers in 2018.
Throughout his career, Wakamatsu has been known for his strong work ethic, attention to detail, and ability to connect with players. He has been praised for his leadership skills and his ability to develop young talent, and he is widely respected throughout the baseball community. Wakamatsu's career has been marked by a dedication to the sport and a commitment to excellence, and he has left a lasting impact on the game of baseball.
⚾