Brad Ausmus appointed as new manager of Los Angeles Angels

Most recently, he had served as assistant to Angels general manager Billy Eppler.

Brad Ausmus is the new manager of the Los Angeles Angels, the team announced Sunday.

He replaces Mike Scioscia, who won a World Series title with the Angels but chose not to return for a 20th season in 2019.

Ausmus, 49, managed the Detroit Tigers from 2014-17, and his team won the American League Central championship in his first season but lost in the League Division Series. His record with the Tigers was 314-332.

Most recently, he had served as assistant to Angels general manager Billy Eppler.

"Over the past few weeks, our baseball operations personnel sat down with numerous highly qualified and impressive candidates for our managerial role. We are thankful to all of them for their time and effort throughout the process," Eppler said in a statement. "Ultimately, Brad's balance of connectivity, communication and leadership skills, as well as his understanding of evolving strategies and probabilistic approach to decision making, led us to him. We believe his knowledge, drive and growth mindset will allow him to integrate seamlessly with our players and staff and will be pivotal in advancing our culture and moving us toward our goals as an organization."

Scioscia, the two-time American League Manager of the Year, posted a 1,650-1,428 career record with the Angels. They finished with a sub-.500 record in four of the past six seasons, despite having a roster than includes arguably the game's best player, outfielder Mike Trout, who in his seven full seasons has won two AL Most Valuable Player Awards, AL Rookie of the Year and five Silver Slugger awards. He is a seven-time All-Star.

Ausmus, a catcher in his playing days, spent 18 seasons in the major leagues from 1993 to 2010: 10 seasons in Houston, four in San Diego, three in Detroit and two with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was selected to one All-Star team and won three Gold Gloves. He had a .251 career batting average.

The Los Angeles Angels announced Brad Ausmus as the club's new manager on Sunday, succeeding Mike Scioscia, who had spent 19 seasons in charge.

Ausmus, 49, spent four seasons as the Detroit Tigers' skipper from 2014-2017. He led the team to the American League Central title in his first year but had an overall record of 314-332.

Scioscia stepped down after a nearly two-decade run with the Angels, which included seven trips to the postseason and a World Series title in 2002.

The Angels have baseball's best player in Mike Trout but are weighed down by hefty contracts, including the $87 million owed to 38-year-old old Albert Pujols over the next three seasons. Two-way star Shohei Ohtani underwent Tommy John surgery at the end of the year and likely won't be able to pitch until 2020.

(With inputs from agencies.)