When Don Mattingly and the Los Angeles Dodgers mutually agreed to part ways after the 2016 season, the club set out on a thorough search for their next manager. While several candidates were interviewed, most believed Gabe Kapler was the frontrunner to take over.
Although it would represent the first managerial job of his career, Kapler had prior ties to Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman during their time together with the Tampa Bay Rays. The Dodgers ultimately boiled their search down to Kapler and Dave Roberts.
The position of course went to Roberts, while Kapler was hired on as director of player development.