Groomed to manage by Detroit Tigers, Phil Nevin takes the helm of Los Angeles Angels

Once on a path to become manager of the Detroit Tigers, Phil Nevin is finally getting his chance with the Los Angeles Angels.

Nevin was named interim manager of the Angels, who fired Joe Maddon on the heels of a 12-game losing streak Tuesday. Nevin moves from third base coach to the top job, inheriting a team that started 27-17 but has since spiraled.

The 51-year-old Nevin cut his teeth both as a player and a manager with the Tigers.

He came to Detroit as a player in 1995 when the Tigers sent closer Mike Henneman to the Astros, who had selected Nevin No. 1 overall in the 1992 draft.

He played with the Tigers for three seasons, batting .246 with 19 home runs and 66 RBIs while seeing action in 160 games at third base and left field. Detroit sent him to the Angels prior to the 1998 season for minor leaguer Nick Skuse.

Nevin went on to shine with the San Diego Padres, delivering an All-Star campaign in 2001 when he batted .306 with 41 home runs and 126 RBIs. He played 12 big-league seasons, finishing with 208 home runs and a .270 average for his career.

He landed his first significant managerial job in 2010 with the Erie SeaWolves, the Class AA affiliate of the Tigers. After one season, Nevin was promoted to the Class AAA level as manager of the Toledo Mud Hens.

Things could have worked out differently for Nevin and the Tigers when Jim Leyland retired after the 2013 season. But the Tigers fired Nevin as Mud Hens manager and hired Brad Ausmus as their big league manager. Nevin posted a 192-238 record with the Mud Hens.

He has since coached in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization and has served as an MLB coach with the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees. He joined the Angels as third base coach this season, but now he finds himself filling bigger shoes.

Nevin’s son, Tyler, is currently playing for the Baltimore Orioles.

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