Angels Manager phil Washington Returns to Dugout After Life-Saving Heart Surgery
Arlington, TX – Phil Washington, manager of the Los Angeles Angels, made an emotional return to the dugout Monday night as his team began a three-game series against the Texas Rangers. WashingtonS return marks a significant milestone after undergoing emergency heart surgery this past summer,a procedure he credits with saving his life.
The health scare began during a four-game series in New York. Initially cleared to travel home with the team, further testing in California revealed a serious blockage in his heart valves, a condition that couldn’t be treated with stents. Washington underwent surgery on June 30th, just a week after being hospitalized on June 23rd, and was discharged on July 7th. The Angels announced his medical leave for the remainder of the season on June 27th, without disclosing the severity of his condition.
“What happened to me saved my life,” Washington shared, visibly moved. He revealed he’s adopted a healthier lifestyle, quitting smoking, improving his diet, and prioritizing sleep. He even briefly lifted his Angels hoodie to display the scars from the surgery.
The experience was profoundly unsettling for Washington, who initially believed he hadn’t survived the procedure. “Actually I thought I was dead,” he recounted. “I was laying someplace where they had put me for a few days, and I said I didn’t make it. So I started pulling stuff off, and the guy saw me doing it, and he came running in and he grabbed my hand. He said, ’What’s going on?’ I said, ‘Am I dead?’ He said, ‘No, you’re here.’ really.”
Washington plans to join the team in Houston after the Texas series, before taking a break during the final leg of the road trip in Kansas City. He hopes to remain with the Angels for the remainder of the season.
His return was met with enthusiastic support from players. Outfielder Jo Adell expressed the team’s joy,saying,”It’s awesome… He looks like himself. I’m just really glad to see him out here, and I no everybody here is pretty excited. He’s bouncing back and making it a point to get back here with us. I think it’s big for everybody. I think it speaks to who he is.”
Washington’s managerial career boasts a successful track record. He holds the Rangers’ record for most wins (664-611) from his tenure from 2007-2014, leading the team to their first two World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011. He later spent time with the Oakland A’s and the Atlanta Braves, contributing to the Braves’ 2021 World Series championship.
The angels faced a challenging 2023 season, finishing with a franchise-worst 63-99 record following the departure of Shohei Ohtani and injuries to Mike Trout. They were 36-38 when Washington initially stepped away, and currently stand at 25-31 under interim manager ray Montgomery.
Montgomery echoed the sentiment of the team, noting the impact of Washington’s presence. “His face lit up. It was good just to have him around. I know being in the clubhouse and being back around the team, it was good for him,” he said. ”I think the nature of how it happened and everything happened so quickly, guys didn’t get a chance to really see him off.”
Even opposing managers expressed their relief at seeing Washington back in the game. Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy, who led his team to a World Series title in 2023, embraced Washington warmly. ”Yeah, it was good to see him, wasn’t it?” Bochy said. “I like Wash a lot. As I told him, it is indeed good to him in a uniform. It seems like he’s doing well.”
