Don Wakamatsu

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It is the relationships that Wakamatsu has built during his time in baseball that defines him best. He was somewhat of an unknown to the public when he was hired as the Mariners' manager last November, but he is well-known and highly respected within the game. [10]

On May 20, 2010, during a game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Wakamatsu received his first career ejection. As of June 12, 2010, he had a career total of two ejections.

On August 9, 2010, amidst one of the worst seasons in team history, Wakamatsu was fired as Mariners manager. [1] He finished with a record of 127 wins and 147 losses. [11]

On November 8, 2010, Wakamatsu was announced as the new bench coach for the Toronto Blue Jays, under new manager John Farrell. [2]

During 2013, Wakamatsu worked as a professional talent scout for the New York Yankees. [12]

On October 25, 2013, Wakamatsu was announced as the new bench coach for the Kansas City Royals. [13]

On April 19, 2015, Wakamatsu was one of five Royals (also pitching coach Dave Eiland, manager Ned Yost, pitcher Kelvin Herrera and shortstop Alcides Escobar) to be ejected in a game against the Oakland Athletics. Two games prior, Escobar had been injured following an attempt by A's third baseman Brett Lawrie to break up a double play. Considering the slide a dirty one, Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura hit Lawrie in the elbow the following game and was immediately ejected. In the series finale, A's pitcher Scott Kazmir hit Lorenzo Cain in the foot and warnings were given. Yost and Eiland were immediately ejected for arguing. Later in the 8th inning, Kelvin Herrera threw a 100 mph fastball behind Lawrie and a trio of ejections followed (Herrera, Wakamatsu and Escobar). The Royals would end up winning the game 4–2 despite the ejections. [14] Wakamatsu was actually ejected twice, as when a warning has been issued, the pitcher and manager are automatically ejected. Wakamatsu was the acting manager. This was the cause of his first ejection, the second being him arguing with the home plate umpire.

The Rangers hired Wakamatsu as their bench coach before the 2018 season. [15] When manager Jeff Banister was fired in September 2018, Wakamatsu took over as interim manager. [16] He finished with a record of three wins and seven losses. [11] He returned to his position as bench coach for the following season. [17] Wakamatsu was let go by Texas following the 2021 season. [18]

Managerial record

As of September 30, 2018
Don Wakamatsu
20120824-0289 Don Wakamatsu.jpg
Wakamatsu with the Toronto Blue Jays
Catcher / Manager
Born: (1963-02-22) February 22, 1963 (age 61)
Hood River, Oregon, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
May 22, 1991, for the Chicago White Sox
Last MLB appearance
October 5, 1991, for the Chicago White Sox
TeamYearRegular seasonPostseason
GamesWonLostWin %FinishWonLostWin %Result
SEA 2009 1628577.5253rd in AL West––––
SEA 2010 1124270.375Fired––––
SEA total274127147.464–––
TEX 2018 1037.3005th in AL West––––
TEX total1037.300–––
Total [11] 284130154.458–––

Independent baseball

In 2023, Wakamatsu was hired as the executive vice president of the Oakland Ballers, a new team in the independent Pioneer Baseball League created to replace the Oakland Athletics after the team's relocation to Las Vegas. [19]

Personal life

Luke Wakamatsu with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in 2016 Luke Wakamatsu (28345174466).jpg
Luke Wakamatsu with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in 2016

Wakamatsu is married to Iowa native Laura Lynn Mullin. He resides in North Richland Hills, Texas with wife, and their three children, sons Jacob and Lucas and daughter Jadyn. Both his sons are also baseball players. Jake was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 48th round of the 2011 MLB Draft and currently plays in the Kansas City Royals organization. Luke was drafted in the 20th round of the 2015 MLB Draft. [20]

Born to a Japanese American ironworker father and an Irish American dental assistant [21] mother, [22] he is fourth generation Japanese American [23] and the first Asian-American manager in Major League Baseball history. [24] His paternal great-grandparents emigrated from Japan to Orting, Washington in the early 20th century and settled in Hood River, Oregon, where Wakamatsu was born. His father was born in the Tule Lake War Relocation Center, a Japanese American internment camp located in Northern California near the Oregon border. [21] Close friends and players call him Wak (pronounced "wok").

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References

  1. 1 2 "Last-place Mariners fire manager Wakamatsu". ESPN.com. August 9, 2010. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Blue Jays complete coaching staff for 2011". MLB.com . November 8, 2010. Archived from the original on January 8, 2018. Retrieved November 8, 2010.
  3. ↑ "Hale leaves O's to become Blue Jays bench coach". MLB.com . November 24, 2012. Retrieved November 24, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Don Wakamatsu on LinkedIn". LinkedIn. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  5. ↑ McCauley, Janie. "Oakland is getting a new minor league team – the Oakland B’s," The Associated Press (AP), Tuesday, November 28, 2023. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Perseverance helps get Don Wakamatsu his first job as M's manager with Alvin Davis' approval". The Seattle Times. November 19, 2008.
  7. 1 2 Texas Rangers Yearbook 2007. Professional Sports Publications. 2007. p. 28.
  8. ↑ "Don Wakamatsu introduced as Mariners manager". The Seattle Times. November 19, 2008. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Wakamatsu to coach in All-Star Game". June 17, 2009. Archived from the original on June 17, 2011. Retrieved November 1, 2009.
  10. ↑ "There's reason to believe in Wakamatsu". Archived from the original on June 17, 2011. Retrieved October 24, 2009.
  11. 1 2 3 "Don Wakamatsu". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  12. ↑ Miller, Julius. "New York Yankees hire Don Wakamatsu in pro scouting department – MLB Update". Bettor.com. Archived from the original on June 28, 2013. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  13. ↑ Grathoff, Pete (October 25, 2013). "Royals add Don Wakamatsu, Mike Jirschele to coaching staff". Kansas City Star. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Ned Yost, Dave Eiland tossed in latest Kansas City Royals-Oakland Athletics incident". Espn.go.com. April 20, 2015. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Rangers complete coaching staff; Don Wakamatsu returns, Dan Warthen hired - Houston Chronicle". Chron.com. November 6, 2017. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Texas Rangers: In search of new leading man, interim manager Don Wakamatsu may already be Rangers' best match | SportsDay". Sportsday.dallasnews.com. September 23, 2018. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Rangers hire former player Luis Ortiz as hitting coach, announce 4 more coaching decisions". Sportsday. November 14, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Ortiz, Wakamatsu out as Rangers coaches". ESPN.com . October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  19. ↑ McCauley, Jane (November 28, 2023). "Oakland is getting a new minor league team — the Oakland B's". AP News. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Cleveland Indians deal in bloodlines, switch-pitcher on last day of 2015 MLB draft". Cleveland.com. June 10, 2015. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  21. 1 2 Kugiya, Hugo (December 26, 2008). "Seattle Manager Hopes What He Does Highlights Who He Is". The New York Times . Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  22. ↑ "A's Bench Coach Wakamatsu Just a Phone Call Away from a Historic Milestone". Nichi Bei Times. October 9, 2008. Archived from the original on September 30, 2011. Retrieved October 25, 2009.
  23. ↑ Eskenazi, Stuart. "Local Japanese Americans applaud the Mariners' hiring of Don Wakamatsu," Seattle Times (US). November 20, 2008.
  24. ↑ "Mariners Hire the First Asian-American Manager". The New York Times . Associated Press. November 20, 2008. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
Sporting positions
Preceded by AZL Diamondbacks Manager
1997 (with Brian Butterfield)		Succeeded by
Preceded by High Desert Mavericks Manager
1998		Succeeded by
Preceded by El Paso Diablos Manager
1999		Succeeded by
Preceded by Erie SeaWolves Manager
2000		Succeeded by
Preceded by Texas Rangers Bench Coach
2003–2006		Succeeded by
Preceded by Texas Rangers Third Base Coach
2007		Succeeded by
Preceded by Oakland Athletics Bench Coach
2008		Succeeded by
Preceded by Toronto Blue Jays bench coach
2011–2012		Succeeded by
Preceded by Kansas City Royals bench coach
2014–2017		Succeeded by
Preceded by Texas Rangers bench coach
2018–2021		Succeeded by
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