View source for Gabe Kapler

{{short description|American baseball player, manager, and executive (born 1975)}}
{{distinguish|Gabe Kaplan}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
| name               = Gabe Kapler
| image              = Kapler223.jpg
| image_size         = 250px
| caption            = Kapler with the Giants in 2023
| team               = Miami Marlins
| number             = 
| position           = [[Outfielder]] / [[Manager (baseball)|Manager]] / [[General manager]]
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1975|7|31}}
| birth_place        = [[Los Angeles]], California, U.S.
| bats               = Right
| throws             = Right
| debutleague        = MLB
| debutdate          = September 20
| debutyear          = 1998
| debutteam          = Detroit Tigers
| finalleague        = NPB
| finaldate          = May 25
| finalyear          = 2005
| finalteam          = Yomiuri Giants
| debut2league       = NPB
| debut2date         = April 1
| debut2year         = 2005
| debut2team         = Yomiuri Giants
| final2league       = MLB
| final2date         = August 14
| final2year         = 2010
| final2team         = Tampa Bay Rays
| statleague         = MLB
| stat1label         = [[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
| stat1value         = .268
| stat2label         = [[Home run]]s
| stat2value         = 82
| stat3label         = [[Run batted in|Runs batted in]]
| stat3value         = 386
| stat4label         = Managerial record
| stat4value         = 456–411
| stat5label         = Winning %
| stat5value         = {{Winning percentage|456|411}}
| stat2league        = NPB
| stat21label        = Batting average
| stat21value        = .153
| stat22label        = Home runs
| stat22value        = 3
| stat23label        = Runs batted in
| stat23value        = 6
| teams              = 
;As player
* [[Detroit Tigers]] ({{mlby|1998}}–{{mlby|1999}})
* [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] ({{mlby|2000}}–{{mlby|2002}})
* [[Colorado Rockies]] ({{mlby|2002}}–{{mlby|2003}})
* [[Boston Red Sox]] ({{mlby|2003}}–{{mlby|2004}})
* [[Yomiuri Giants]] ({{npby|2005}})
* [[Boston Red Sox]] ({{mlby|2005}}–{{mlby|2006}})
* [[Milwaukee Brewers]] ({{mlby|2008}})
* [[Tampa Bay Rays]] ({{mlby|2009}}–{{mlby|2010}})
;As manager
* [[Philadelphia Phillies]] ({{mlby|2018}}–{{mlby|2019}})
* [[San Francisco Giants]] ({{mlby|2020}}–{{mlby|2023}})
;As general manager
* [[Miami Marlins]] ({{mlby|2025}}–present)
| highlights         = 
* [[World Series champion]] ({{wsy|2004}})
* [[Major League Baseball Manager of the Year Award|NL Manager of the Year]] (2021)
}}

'''Gabriel Stefan Kapler''' (born July 31, 1975), nicknamed "'''Kap'''", is an American professional baseball executive and former [[outfielder]] and [[Manager (baseball)|manager]] who serves as the general manager of the [[Miami Marlins]] of [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB).

Kapler was a 57th-round draft pick (1,487th overall) by the [[Detroit Tigers]] in the [[1995 Major League Baseball draft|1995 MLB draft]]. In the minor leagues, he was an All-Star in 1996, 1997, and 1998, and was recognized by national publications as Minor League Player of the Year in 1998.

He played in the major leagues from 1998 to 2010, for the Tigers, [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]], [[Colorado Rockies]], [[Boston Red Sox]], [[Milwaukee Brewers]], and [[Tampa Bay Rays]] (except for the 2007 season, which — having briefly retired as a player — he spent managing the [[Greenville Drive]] of the [[South Atlantic League]], the [[Single-A]] affiliate of the Red Sox). Kapler also spent part of the 2005 season playing for the [[Yomiuri Giants]] in [[Nippon Professional Baseball]]'s [[Central League]].

After permanently retiring as a player, Kapler served as a [[coach (baseball)|coach]] for the [[Israeli national baseball team]] in the [[2013 World Baseball Classic]], and as Director of Player Development for the Dodgers from 2014 through 2017. He was the manager of the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] in 2018 and 2019. He became the manager of the San Francisco Giants in 2020, and led them to a franchise-record 107 wins and the NL West title in 2021. Kapler was named the 2021 [[Major League Baseball Manager of the Year Award|National League Manager of the Year]]. ESPN described him as "an analytically savvy, outside-the-box thinker who [can] also relate well to players."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/32647405/san-francisco-giants-gabe-kapler-named-nl-manager-year-107-win-season|title=Kapler, who led 107-win Giants, named NL Manager of the Year|date=November 16, 2021|website=ESPN|author=Alden Gonzalez}}</ref> The Giants fired Kapler towards the end of the 2023 season. In December 2023, Kapler became an assistant general manager of the [[Miami Marlins]] of MLB.

==Early life==
Gabriel Stefan Kapler was born on July 31, 1975, in [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]], Los Angeles, California to a [[Jewish]] family.<ref name="auto">{{cite news|last1=Samuels|first1=Matt|title=Getting to know Gabe: Kapler talks baseball, Jewish pride during Houston trip|url=http://jhvonline.com/getting-to-know-gabe-kapler-talks-baseball-jewish-pride-during-houston-tr-p9085-256.htm|access-date=November 9, 2014|work=Jewish Herald Voice|date=June 3, 2010}}</ref> His father, Michael, was a classical pianist originally from [[Brooklyn, New York]] who also wrote music and taught piano. His mother, Judy, is an early childhood educator at a Jewish preschool who is originally from [[Bensonhurst, Brooklyn]].<ref name=autogenerated13/><ref>Stephanie Apstein (November 16, 2021). [https://www.si.com/mlb/2021/11/16/gabe-kapler-giant-success "How Gabe Kapler Turned Philly Failure Into Giant Success,"] ''Sports Illustrated''.</ref> They met while working in the [[opposition to United States involvement in the Vietnam War|antiwar movement]] of the 1960s and moved to California in the 1970s.<ref name=autogenerated13>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/espn/magazine/archives/news/story?page=magazine-20000501-article49|title=Gabe Kapler: Can a guy once nicknamed "Gabe Ruth" ever live up to the incredible hype?|author=Bruce Feldman|date=July 10, 2012|website=ESPN|access-date=April 2, 2018}}</ref><ref name=autogenerated9>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsday.com/sports/power-to-surprise-rangers-kapler-not-what-you-would-expect-1.318691|author=Mark Herrmann|title=Power to Surprise / Rangers' Kapler not what you would expect|date=April 11, 2000|work=Newsday|access-date=April 2, 2018}}</ref><ref name=autogenerated8>{{cite web|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/gabe-kapler-phillies-be-bold-attitude-20180326.html|author=Matt Breen|title=Justin Timberlake, Gabe Kapler, and how the Phillies aim to 'Be Bold'|work=Philadelphia Daily News|date=March 26, 2018|access-date=April 2, 2018}}</ref><ref name=autogenerated12>Richard Rys (March 24, 2018). [https://www.phillymag.com/news/2018/03/24/gabe-kapler-phillies-manager/ "Inside the Brilliant, Baffling, and Utterly Fascinating Baseball Mind of Gabe Kapler; The Phillies' new skipper is unlike any manager this team, and this town, has ever seen. That's a good thing — right?"<!-- Bot generated title -->], ''Philadelphia Magazine''.</ref><ref>Todd Zolecki (February 16, 2018). [https://www.mlb.com/news/music-important-to-phillies-gabe-kapler/c-266588844 "Music important to Phillies Gabe Kapler; New Phils skipper enhancing mood, workouts with music; umpires attend camp,"<!-- Bot generated title -->] MLB.com.</ref> Kapler and his brother Jeremy attended The Country School, due to their father's position on the faculty as a music teacher.<ref name="keownt">{{cite news |last1=Keown |first1=Tim |title=Being Gabe Kapler: Inside the mind of the San Francisco Giants' nonconformist manager |work=ESPN.com |date=May 13, 2022}}</ref>

At the age of eight, he was hit by a car and needed therapy to overcome his fear of crossing streets.<ref name=autogenerated13 /> He grew up in middle-class [[Reseda, Los Angeles]], in the [[San Fernando Valley]], where he was the smallest player on his Reseda [[Little League]] team.<ref name=autogenerated8 /><ref name=autogenerated12 /><ref name=autogenerated7>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailynews.com/2017/03/16/how-to-hit-a-real-home-run-in-life-dennis-mccarthy/|author=Dennis McCarthy|title=How to hit a real home run (in life)|date=March 16, 2017|work=Los Angeles Daily News|access-date=April 2, 2018}}</ref>

Kapler attended [[William Howard Taft Charter High School]] in [[Woodland Hills, Los Angeles]]. He played shortstop, second base, and third base for its baseball team, hitting .313 in his senior season, and graduated in 1993 at age 17.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-sep-02-sp-18642-story.html|title=Kapler's Career Has Received a Big Lift|first=Eric|last=Sondheimer|date=September 2, 1998|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=November 2, 2017}}</ref><ref name="latimes.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-11-20-sp-563-story.html|title=Taft Infielder Signs With CS Fullerton|date=November 20, 1992|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=November 2, 2017}}</ref><ref name=autogenerated15>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/21574/baseball-proguestus-giving-up-the-ped-guessing-game/|title=Baseball ProGUESTus: Giving Up the PED Guessing Game|author=Gabe Kapler|date=August 20, 2013|work=Baseball Prospectus|access-date=April 2, 2018}}</ref> In his four seasons of high school baseball, he never hit a [[home run]].<ref name=autogenerated7 /> During the summer, he batted .350 with 4 home runs and 30 [[runs batted in]] (RBIs) for the Woodland Hills East [[American Legion]] team.<ref name="latimes.com"/>

==College career==
Kapler attended [[Cal State-Fullerton]] in fall 1993 on scholarship for one semester, before transferring to [[Moorpark College]] in the fall of 1994.<ref name=autogenerated15 /><ref name=autogenerated14>{{cite web|url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/sports/2017/10/30/phillies-hire-gabe-kapler-their-manager/815537001/|author=Rob Maaddi|title=Phillies hire former Moorpark College star Gabe Kapler as manager|work=Ventura County Star|access-date=April 2, 2018|date=October 30, 2017}}</ref> He was named First Team All-[[Western State Conference]] after [[batting average (baseball)|batting]] .337 with seven home runs and 52 RBIs.<ref name=autogenerated14 /> He was inducted into the Moorpark College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/jan/25/moorpark-hall-of-fame-to-induct-nine-new-members/|author=Joe Curley |title=Moorpark Hall of Fame to induct nine new members: College |work=Ventura County Star |date=January 25, 2008 |access-date=March 12, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130205105721/http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/jan/25/moorpark-hall-of-fame-to-induct-nine-new-members/ |archive-date=February 5, 2013}}</ref>

==Professional career==
===Draft and minor leagues===
Kapler was the 57th-round draft pick (1,487th overall) of the [[Detroit Tigers]] in the [[1995 Major League Baseball draft]].<ref name=autogenerated5>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/player/gabe-kapler-137002 |title=Gabe Kapler Stats, Fantasy & News |work=mlb.com |access-date=October 30, 2017}}</ref> He was signed by scout Dennis Lieberthal, father of former Phillies catcher [[Mike Lieberthal]], after being offered a $10,000 [[signing bonus]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.questia.com/newspaper/1G1-57454094/kapler-has-become-suns-strongman|author=Gene Frenette|date=June 15, 1998|work=The Florida Times Union|title=Kapler Has Become Suns' Strongman}}</ref><ref name=autogenerated11 /> Playing 63 games for the [[Jamestown Jammers]] after he signed, he tied for second in the Class A- [[New York–Penn League]] in [[double (baseball)|doubles]] (with 19), fifth in [[extra-base hits]] (27), and batted .288/.351/.453.<ref name=autogenerated1/>

In 1996, with the [[Fayetteville Generals]], Kapler led the Class A [[South Atlantic League]] in [[hit (baseball)|hits]] (157), doubles (45; 2nd in the minor leagues), extra-base hits (71) and total bases (280), was second in homers (26), RBIs (99) and [[slugging percentage|slugging]] (.534), 5th in batting (.300), 7th in [[run (baseball)|runs]] (81) and 10th in [[on-base percentage]] (.380).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://minors.baseball-reference.com/bat_leaders.cgi?yid=1996&lvl=&lid=&sort=2B|title=Batting Leaders|publisher=Minors.baseball-reference.com|access-date=October 6, 2010}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He made the South Atlantic League All-Star team.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/profile.asp?P=gabe-kapler&Page=Awards|title=Gabe Kapler Baseball Statistics [1995–2010]|publisher=The Baseball Cube|access-date=November 2, 2017}}</ref> He then played for the [[West Oahu CaneFires]] in the [[Hawaiian Winter League]], leading the league in home runs with 7.<ref name=autogenerated5 /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/97/10/09/sports/story4.html |first1=Al |last1=Chase |title=Hawaii Winter Baseball opens season tomorrow |newspaper=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |date=October 9, 1997 |access-date=November 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514015814/http://archives.starbulletin.com/97/10/09/sports/story4.html |archive-date=May 14, 2021}}</ref>

In 1997, with the [[Lakeland Flying Tigers]], Kapler led the Class A+ [[Florida State League]] in doubles (40) and total bases (262), tied for first in extra-base hits (65), was 2nd in games, 3rd in hits (153), tied for 3rd in home runs (19) and RBIs (87), 4th in slugging percentage (.505), and tied for 4th in runs (87) and sacrifice flies (10), while batting .295.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/seasons/review.asp?Y=1997&L=FSL&Page=Awards|title=1997 Florida State League – Season Review|publisher=The Baseball Cube|access-date=November 2, 2017}}</ref> He was named a Florida State League mid-season and post-season All-Star.<ref name=autogenerated1 /><ref name=autogenerated5 /> He then played for the [[Honolulu Sharks]] in the Hawaiian Winter League.<ref name=autogenerated5 />

In 1998, with the [[Jacksonville Suns]], Kapler won the Class AA [[Southern League Most Valuable Player Award]]. He hit a league-high 28 home runs, and also led the league in hits (176; 8th-most in the minors), runs (113; 6th-most in the minors), doubles (47; 3rd-most in the minor leagues; breaking the old doubles record of 44), RBIs (146; most in the minors in 1998, and most ever in the Southern League), extra-base hits (81; a league record), total bases (319; a league record), and sacrifice flies (11).<ref name=autogenerated2>{{cite web|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/seasons/review.asp?Y=1998&L=Sou&Page=Awards|title=1998 Southern League – Season Review|publisher=The Baseball Cube|access-date=November 2, 2017}}</ref><ref name=autogenerated5 /><ref name=autogenerated10 /> He was 3rd in the league in slugging percentage (.583), 4th in OPS (.976), 5th in batting average (.322), and tied for 8th in triples (6).<ref name=autogenerated2 /> His league record for RBIs broke the 1986 record of 132 set by [[Terry Steinbach]]. He played in both the [[Double-A All-Star Game|Double-A]] and [[Southern League All-Star Game]]s, and was recognized as the MVP of the Southern League All-Star Game.<ref name=autogenerated1 /> He was also named to the Southern League's post-season All-Star team, and named a ''[[Baseball America]]'' First Team Minor League All Star.<ref name=autogenerated1 /> He was honored as Minor League Player of the Year by ''[[Baseball Weekly]]'', ''[[The Sporting News Minor League Player of the Year Award|The Sporting News]]'', and ''[[USA Today Minor League Player of the Year Award|USA Today]]'',<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65571192/is-tigers-rookie-ready-to-challenge/ |title=Is Tigers rookie ready to challenge Hunter in center? |agency=[[Associated Press|AP]] |newspaper=[[Petoskey News-Review]] |location=[[Petoskey, Michigan]] |page=B3 |date=February 24, 1999 |access-date=December 18, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> and was named Tigers Minor League Player of the Year and Detroit's No. 1 prospect by ''Baseball America''.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

===Detroit Tigers (1998–1999)===
Kapler made his Major League debut in 1998 at the age of 22.<ref name=autogenerated16>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kaplega01.shtml "Gabe Kapler Stats,"<!-- Bot generated title -->] Baseball Reference.</ref> He became the first Tiger since the inception of the draft in 1969 to be selected as late as the 57th round, and reach the majors.<ref name=autogenerated5 />

In 1999, he hit his first career home run on April 30 against [[Albie Lopez]] of the [[Tampa Bay Devil Rays]]. Kapler's 10 home runs in his first 64 games was the fastest by a Tiger rookie since 1954, and was not surpassed until 2008.<ref>[http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080722/SPORTS02/80723002/1048/SPORTS], ''Detroit Free Press''. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080804040749/http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20080722%2FSPORTS02%2F80723002%2F1048%2FSPORTS|author=Jon Paul Morosi|date=August 4, 2008|title=Tigers' Matt Joyce makes history with home runs|work=Detroit Free Press}}</ref> For the season, Kapler wound up hitting a career-high 18 home runs in just over 400 [[at bat]]s, third among AL rookies, and his 49 RBIs were ninth among AL rookies.<ref name=autogenerated5 /><ref name=autogenerated17>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/player/gabe-kapler-137002|title=Gabe Kapler Stats, Fantasy & News|website=Major League Baseball|access-date=November 2, 2017}}</ref>

===Texas Rangers (2000–2002)===
In November 1999, he was traded by the Tigers with Al Webb, [[Frank Catalanotto]], [[Francisco Cordero]], [[Bill Haselman]], and [[Justin Thompson (baseball)|Justin Thompson]] to the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] for [[Juan González (baseball)|Juan González]], [[Danny Patterson]], and [[Gregg Zaun]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Grant|first1=Evan|title=Remember Rangers trade of Juan Gonzalez to Detroit? May lead to consecutive AL pennants|url=http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/2011/10/remember-rangers-trade-of-juan.html/|access-date=November 10, 2014|work=Dallas Morning News|date=October 15, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110014707/http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/2011/10/remember-rangers-trade-of-juan.html/|archive-date=November 10, 2014}}</ref>

Kapler hit two home runs on [[Opening Day]] in the 2000 season for the Rangers, becoming the first player to homer in his first two at bats as a Ranger.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-apr-04-sp-15815-story.html|title=Juan's Gone So Kapler Fills the Bill|work=Los Angeles Times|date=April 4, 2000|access-date=November 2, 2017}}</ref> In July he homered in four straight games, tying a club record.<ref name=autogenerated10 /> He then had a team-record 28-game [[hitting streak]] later that season, which was also a major league high for the season.<ref>Topkin, Marc. [http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/article984229.ece "New outfielder Kapler an offbeat guy who's in tune with the Tampa Bay Rays' needs"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607041715/http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/article984229.ece |date=June 7, 2011}}, ''[[St. Petersburg Times]]''. Published March 16, 2009.</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Henson|first1=Steve|title=Hit Parade; Kapler's Streak Showed Him He Belongs in the |work=Los Angeles Times|date=August 23, 2000}}</ref> On July 30, he was named the [[American League]]'s [[Major League Baseball Player of the Week Award|Player of the Week]].<ref name=autogenerated9/> In 2000, he batted .302/.360/.473 with 32 doubles (second on the team), 14 home runs, and 66 RBIs in 444 at bats, hitting .344 in the second half of the season.<ref name=autogenerated8 /> On defense, playing primarily center field, he tied for second among AL outfielders with 4 double plays.<ref name=autogenerated8 /><ref name=autogenerated10 />

In 2001, he hit 17 home runs, scored 77 runs, had 72 RBIs, and [[stolen base|stole]] 23 bases (leading the team) in 29 attempts.<ref name=autogenerated8 /> Kapler batted .267/.348/.437.<ref name=autogenerated9 /> He made just one [[error (baseball)|error]] in 344 total chances for a .997 [[fielding percentage]], second-best in the AL, and his eight [[assist (baseball)|assists]] tied for fourth-most of any AL [[center fielder]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/2001-fielding-leaders.shtml |title=2001 American League Fielding Leaders |publisher=Baseball Reference|date=January 1, 1970 |access-date=October 30, 2017}}</ref>

===Colorado Rockies (2002–2003)===
In July 2002, the Rangers traded Kapler, with [[Jason Romano]] and cash, to the [[Colorado Rockies]] for [[Dennys Reyes]] and [[Todd Hollandsworth]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Rangers, Rockies swap four players|url=http://amarillo.com/stories/2002/08/01/spo_rangers.shtml|access-date=November 9, 2014|agency=Associated Press|work=Amarillo Globe News|date=August 1, 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110020535/http://amarillo.com/stories/2002/08/01/spo_rangers.shtml|archive-date=November 10, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Mets Acquire Pitching Help|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-aug-01-sp-trade1-story.html|access-date=November 9, 2014|work=Los Angeles Times|date=August 1, 2002}}</ref> Playing for the Rockies in 2002, he batted .311/.359/.445 in 119 at bats.<ref name=autogenerated9/> In 2002 between Texas and Colorado, he batted .279, and .357 with runners in [[scoring position]], as on defense he had 10 outfield assists.<ref name=autogenerated9 /><ref name=autogenerated10 />

===Boston Red Sox (2003–2004)===
[[File:Gabe Kapler.jpg|300px|thumb|Kapler with the Boston Red Sox in 2004.]]
On June 28, 2003, the [[Boston Red Sox]] acquired Kapler from the Rockies.<ref name="mlb"/> He batted .292/.349/.449 for the Red Sox, in 158 at bats.<ref name=autogenerated9/>

In 2004, when [[Shawn Green]] of the [[Los Angeles Dodgers|Dodgers]] announced that he would not play on [[Yom Kippur]], the Boston media asked Kapler if he would do the same thing. Kapler called a Boston-area [[rabbi]] for advice. With the [[Curse of the Bambino]] still hanging over Red Sox fans' heads, the rabbi reportedly said: "Do it! We need all the help we can get!" Kapler decided to play.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1e79p/JewishRetailerAug09/resources/15.htm |title=x|publisher=yudu.com |date=August 8, 2005 |access-date=February 18, 2011}}</ref>

Kapler played a career-high 136 games in 2004, hitting 6 home runs and driving in 33 runs in 290 at bats, as he primarily played [[right field]].<ref name=autogenerated9 /><ref name=autogenerated10 /> He batted .272.<ref name=autogenerated9 /> He also led the team with 6 outfield assists.<ref name=autogenerated8 /> On Patriots' Day 2004, Kapler drove in two runs, including the game-winner in the bottom of the eighth inning off former Red Sox closer and Yankees setup man [[Tom Gordon]]. The Red Sox went on to win the game 5–4.

In Game 4 of the [[2004 World Series]] against the [[St. Louis Cardinals|Cardinals]], Kapler had been inserted as a [[pinch runner]], but manager [[Terry Francona]] left him in the game to play right field in the ninth. Kapler joined an exclusive club, as one of the nine players who were on the field when the Red Sox won their first title in 86 years.<ref name="nytimes.com">{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/13/sports/baseball/13kapler.html?_r=1&ref=baseball&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin | work=The New York Times | title=Long Road Leads Back to the Outfield for Kapler | first=Joshua | last=Robinson | date=April 13, 2008 | access-date=May 3, 2010}}</ref>

===Yomiuri Giants (2005)===
Less than one month after the Red Sox dramatic 2004 World Series victory, Kapler departed to play for Japan's [[Yomiuri Giants]]. He received a $2&nbsp;million deal plus a $700,000 [[signing bonus]], compared to the $750,000 salary he had received from the Red Sox. Driven by the memory of an elementary-school report that he had written about Japan, he felt it was time for a change. "I tend to make emotional decisions," he said. "I did it more for the life experience than anything else. And ever since I wrote that report, I've been fascinated by everything that an 8-year-old associates with a country far, far away."<ref name="nytimes.com"/> He struggled in 38 games in Japan, and was placed on the inactive list by Yomiuri in the 2005 mid-season.<ref name="nytimes.com"/>

===Boston Red Sox (2005–2006)===
Kapler was re-signed by the Red Sox in July 2005, just a few hours after clearing [[Central League|Japanese Central League]] waivers.<ref name="mlb">{{cite news|last1=Browne|first1=Ian|title=Popular Kapler returns to Red Sox|url=http://m.mlb.com/news/article/1132759/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110090304/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/1132759/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 10, 2014|access-date=November 10, 2014|work=MLB.com|date=July 15, 2005}}</ref> On September 14, 2005, Kapler ruptured his left [[Achilles tendon]] while rounding second base after a home run by teammate [[Tony Graffanino]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2162043 |title=Red Sox outfielder Kapler ruptures Achilles |date=September 14, 2005 |access-date=August 1, 2025 |work=Associated Press |publisher=ESPN.com}}</ref> Kapler was replaced by pinch runner [[Alejandro Machado]], who finished rounding the bases and scored the run in Kapler's place.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TOR/TOR200509140.shtml |title=Boston Red Sox vs Toronto Blue Jays Box Score: September 14, 2005 |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |date=September 14, 2005 |access-date=August 1, 2025}}</ref>  Kapler had surgery, which ended his season.<ref name=autogenerated10 />

In June 2006, Kapler came back from his injury.<ref name="braves2"/> That season, he had his best on-base percentage in five years (.340), hit .316 with two out and runners in scoring position, and played error-less outfield for the second year in a row.<ref name=autogenerated9 />

Kapler announced his retirement from professional baseball on December 12, 2006.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Petraglia|first1=Mike|title=Kapler announces retirement|url=http://m.redsox.mlb.com/news/article/1759972/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110090355/http://m.redsox.mlb.com/news/article/1759972/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 10, 2014|access-date=November 10, 2014|work=MLB.com|date=December 12, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2006/12/kapler_to_retir.html |title=Kapler retires, named Class-A skipper |last=Edes |first=Gordon |date=December 12, 2006 |website=Boston Globe |access-date=November 2, 2017}}</ref>

===Minor league managerial career (2007)===
He served the Boston Red Sox as manager of their Single-A affiliate, the [[Greenville Drive]], for one season in 2007.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ryan|first1=Bob|title=Kapler is managing nicely|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2007/03/07/kapler_is_managing_nicely/?page=full|access-date=November 9, 2014|work=Boston Globe|date=March 7, 2007}}</ref> The team went 58–81, and finished in 7th place in the [[South Atlantic League]] Southern Division.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/sports/baseball/greenville-drive/2017/10/30/ex-greenville-drive-manager-gabe-kapler-reportedly-take-over-philadelphia-phillies/813758001/|title=Ex-Greenville Drive manager Gabe Kapler reportedly to take over Philadelphia Phillies|work=Greenville News|date=October 30, 2017|access-date=November 8, 2017}}</ref>

===Milwaukee Brewers (2008)===
On September 20, 2007, after one season as a manager, Kapler announced that he would like to return to play Major League Baseball in 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2007/09/kapler_wants_a.html |title=Kapler wants a return |work=Boston Globe |date=September 20, 2007 |access-date=March 12, 2009 | first1=Eric | last1=Wilbur}}</ref> On the decision, Kapler said "I miss the battle. I still need to be on the field as a player."<ref name=":1" /> On December 20, Kapler signed a one-year, non-guaranteed contract with the [[Milwaukee Brewers]] that paid $800,000 when Kapler made the roster.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20071220&content_id=2334600&vkey=pr_mil&fext=.jsp&c_id=mil|title=Brewers acquire free agent Gabe Kapler; Veteran outfielder signs one-year contract|work=mlb.com|access-date=November 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107005028/http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20071220&content_id=2334600&vkey=pr_mil&fext=.jsp&c_id=mil|archive-date=November 7, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
{{Quote box |width=77% | bgcolor= |align=center | quote="He knows he has to come in and win a job. I don't think this was about the money for him. It was about getting a chance to play again. He has great work ethic. People love the way he plays the game. He's a guy with Major League experience and can play all three outfield positions. And this guy is in better shape than our 25-year-old guys."<ref>{{cite web|author=Adam McCalvy |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071220&content_id=2334901&vkey=hotstove2007&fext=.jsp |title=Brewers, Kapler agree to one-year deal|work=Mlb.com |date=December 20, 2007 |access-date=March 12, 2009}}</ref>
|source= — Brewers General Manager [[Doug Melvin]] }}

The initial plan, before [[Mike Cameron]] was acquired, was to have Kapler replace the non-tendered [[Kevin Mench]] as a right-handed option to share time with [[Tony Gwynn Jr.]], [[Gabe Gross]], and [[Joe Dillon]], in [[left field]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chi-30-rogers-britedec30,1,7703460.column |title=Topic Galleries |work=Chicago Tribune |access-date=March 12, 2009 }}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/cs-080105barrybondsphilrogerstradewhispers,1,6905589.story?coll=cs-whitesox-headlines |title=Chicago Sports News |work=Chicago Tribune |access-date=March 12, 2009}}</ref> With a focus on defense, Yost indicated in March that Gwynn and Kapler might have a leg up on Gross.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=725016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309235410/http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=725016|url-status=dead|title=Shift on in center field |work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|author=Tom Haudricourt and Anthony Witrado|date=March 5, 2008|archive-date=March 9, 2008}}</ref>

"He's been very impressive so far," said Brewers manager [[Ned Yost]] in March.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_8423157 |title=Kapler's drive to play won't melt away |work=The Denver Post |date= March 2, 2008|access-date=March 12, 2009 |first=Troy E. |last=Renck}}</ref> "I would have never known he took a year off. He does not show any signs of it to me.<ref>{{cite web|author=Adam McCalvy |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080307&content_id=2410895&vkey=spt2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |title=Kapler continues his pursuit of a return |work=Mlb.com |access-date=March 12, 2009}}</ref>

While Cameron served a 25-game suspension to start the season for twice testing positive for a banned [[stimulant]] in the fall of 2007, Kapler made the club, and began to see action in center field.<ref name="madison1">{{cite web|url=http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/sports/277831 |author=Vic Feuerherd|title= Brewers: Kapler back for more|work=Wisconsin State Journal |date=March 19, 2008 |access-date=March 12, 2009| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080322014257/http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/sports/277831| archive-date = March 22, 2008}}</ref><ref name="sportsillustrated1">{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/jon_heyman/04/14/heyman.kapler/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102080132/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/jon_heyman/04/14/heyman.kapler/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 2, 2012|author=Jon Heyman |title=Kapler managing a quick return to prominence |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=April 14, 2008 |access-date=March 12, 2009}}</ref> On April 5, 2008, he hit the first [[pinch hitter|pinch-hit]] home run of his career for Milwaukee in the 7th inning of a game against the [[San Francisco Giants]]. Kapler started the season as the Brewers' hottest hitter, going 11-for-26 with four home runs and 11 RBIs.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rosenthal|first1=Ken|author-link1=Ken Rosenthal|title=Brewers reaping rewards from Kapler's change in course|url=http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8043672/Brewers-reaping-rewards-from-Kapler%27s-change-in-course|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420230034/http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8043672/Brewers-reaping-rewards-from-Kapler%27s-change-in-course|access-date=November 10, 2014|publisher=Fox Sports MSN|date=April 17, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 20, 2008}}</ref>

Kapler gave fans a taste of his hard-nosed style against the [[Los Angeles Dodgers|Dodgers]] on August 16. He ran full-speed after [[Russell Martin (baseball)|Russell Martin]]'s long fly in the seventh inning, snagging the ball to deprive Martin of a home run as he toppled head-first into the left-field seats.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200808163322228|title=MLB Videos and Highlights|website=MLB.com|access-date=November 2, 2017}}</ref> The outstanding catch helped the Brewers hold onto a one-run lead, and earned Kapler the Play of the Year Award, voted by over 12&nbsp;million fans in MLB's [[This Year in Baseball Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Tim Ott |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081218&content_id=3721036&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |title=Season's finest claim TYIB Awards |work=Mlb.com |date=December 18, 2008 |access-date=March 12, 2009}}</ref> Similarly, three days later Kapler made a diving catch in left field to rob [[Ty Wigginton]] of a hit, and on September 6 Kapler ran down a blooper to center and made an outstanding diving catch.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200808193334096|title=MLB Videos and Highlights|website=MLB.com|access-date=November 2, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200809063429883|title=MLB Videos and Highlights|website=MLB.com|access-date=November 2, 2017}}</ref> Kapler missed the last two weeks of the season as well as the [[2008 National League Division Series|NLDS]] after tearing his [[latissimus dorsi]] muscle in his right shoulder on a throw to the plate in mid-September.<ref name="jsonline1">{{cite web |url=http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=804291 |title=Brewers report card: Players |publisher=JSOnline |date=October 9, 2008 |access-date=March 12, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012015222/http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=804291 |archive-date=October 12, 2008}}</ref>

For the year, in 96 games Kapler batted .301/.340/.498, and hit eight home runs, playing mostly in center field, and batting .386 with a .632 slugging percentage in tie games.<ref name=autogenerated9 /> Kapler started 43 games.<ref name=autogenerated9 /> He was the club's best pinch-hitter, batting .323 with two homers (the first pinch-hit shots of his career) and 8 RBIs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=804292 |title=Brewers report card: Team grades |publisher=JSOnline |date=October 9, 2008 |access-date=March 12, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012015227/http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=804292 |archive-date=October 12, 2008 }}</ref>

On October 30, 2008, Kapler filed for [[free agency (sports)|free agency]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Adam McCalvy |url=http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081030&content_id=3656200&vkey=news_mil&fext=.jsp&c_id=mil |title=Brewers prepare offer for Sabathia |work=mlb.com |date=October 30, 2008 |access-date=March 12, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205122853/http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081030&content_id=3656200&vkey=news_mil&fext=.jsp&c_id=mil |archive-date=December 5, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Tampa Bay Rays (2009–2010)===
[[File:001H0892 Gabe Kapler.jpg|thumb|right|Kapler with the [[Tampa Bay Rays]] in 2009]]

On January 12, 2009, Kapler signed a one-year contract with the [[Tampa Bay Rays]] for $1,000,018. The extra $18 was chosen because it represented the [[Chai (symbol)|symbol for "life" in Judaism]].<ref name=cha>{{cite web |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090112&content_id=3740408&vkey=hotstove2008&fext=.jsp |title=Kapler added to Rays' outfield mix |access-date=January 12, 2009 |author=Bill Chastain |author-link=MLB.com |date=January 12, 2009 |work=MLB.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/chi-25-rogers-whispersjan25,0,2865632.story |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219070411/http://chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/chi-25-rogers-whispersjan25,0,2865632.story |archive-date=February 19, 2009 |title=Phil Rogers' MLB whispers |work= Chicago Tribune |date=February 26, 2009 |access-date=June 29, 2015 | first=Phil | last=Rogers}}</ref>

Kapler started the season [[platoon system|platooning]] in center field with [[Matt Joyce (baseball)|Matt Joyce]], in place of Rays' center fielder [[B. J. Upton]], who had offseason surgery on his left shoulder and was not ready for Opening Day.<ref name=cha/> On April 13, Kapler struck out against [[New York Yankee]] outfielder [[Nick Swisher]].<ref name="braves2">{{cite web|url=http://braves.scout.com/a.z?s=248&p=2&c=715325 |title=Red Sox Notebook |publisher=Braves.scout.com |date=December 29, 2007 |access-date=March 12, 2009}}</ref> Kapler then began to platoon in right field with Gabe Gross. In June, he tied a club record shared by [[Jose Canseco]] and [[Julio Lugo]], with home runs in four straight games.<ref name=autogenerated10 /> Kapler ended the season at .354 with 4 homers in 82 at-bats against left-handers.<ref>{{cite web|author=Bill Chastain|url=http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090210&content_id=3815088&vkey=news_tb&fext=.jsp&c_id=tb |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215200602/http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090210&content_id=3815088&vkey=news_tb&fext=.jsp&c_id=tb |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 15, 2009 |title=Rays reload for another run |work=mlb.com |date=January 15, 2006 |access-date=March 12, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/looking-at-a-platoon-grosskapler/ |title=Looking at a Platoon: Gross/Kapler|author=R.J. Anderson |publisher=Fangraphs |date=April 3, 2009 |access-date=March 16, 2010}}</ref> In this role, he almost broke up [[Mark Buehrle's perfect game]] on July 23, 2009. Leading off the ninth inning against the [[Chicago White Sox|White Sox]], he was robbed of a home run by a leaping [[DeWayne Wise]], a ninth inning defensive replacement.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Seligman |first1=Andrew |title=Buehrle throws perfect game |url=https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Buehrle-throws-perfect-game-3224621.php |access-date=November 4, 2025 |work=San Francisco Chronicle |agency=Associated Press |date=July 24, 2009}}</ref>

Through July 10, despite a slow start, Kapler had the best slugging percentage of his career (.505) and was batting .320 with 4 home runs in 75 at-bats and a .680 slugging percentage against left-handers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/individual_player_splits.jsp?c_id=tb&playerID=137002&statType=1 |title=Gabe Kapler Split Statistics|work=Mlb.com |date=July 31, 1975 |access-date=March 16, 2010}}</ref> As of July 10, 64% of his hits in 2009 had been for extra bases, which would be first in the major leagues for a player with at least 100 plate appearances (Kapler had 129).<ref>[http://mvn.com/theraysparty/2009/07/kapler-is-a-powerful-man.html "Kapler is a Powerful Man,"] MVN.com, July 10, 2009, accessed July 18, 2009 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303172010/http://mvn.com/theraysparty/2009/07/kapler-is-a-powerful-man.html |date=March 3, 2016 }}</ref>

Kapler was re-signed by the Rays on October 27, 2009, to another one-year contract, this time for $1.05&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.tampabay.com/rays/2009/10/tampa-bay-rays-resign-outfielder-gabe-kapler.html |author=Marc Topkin|title=Tampa Bay Rays re-sign outfielder Gabe Kapler |publisher=tampabay.com |date=October 27, 2009 |access-date=March 19, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091029032059/http://blogs.tampabay.com/rays/2009/10/tampa-bay-rays-resign-outfielder-gabe-kapler.html |archive-date=October 29, 2009 }}</ref> Over 2008–09, Kapler hit .304 against left-handers with a .577 slugging percentage, 9th-best in the Major Leagues.<ref name=autogenerated10 /> "Over the past two years, Kap has been one of the best in baseball against left-handed pitching", said Rays executive vice president of baseball operations [[Andrew Friedman]]. "Because he's also a plus defensive outfielder, he's become a tremendous asset here. His value even extends beyond the field; his knowledge and presence make him a positive influence on our younger players."<ref>{{cite web|author=Bill Chastain|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091027&content_id=7560062&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|date=October 27, 2010 |title=Rays lock up Kapler for one more year; Veteran confident team can return to Series in 2010|work=Mlb.com |access-date=March 19, 2010}}</ref>

In a December interview manager [[Joe Maddon]] said: "I'm still a big Gabe Kapler fan. You look at his [[On-base plus slugging|OPS]] over the last couple of years versus left-handed pitching, it's among the best in all of baseball".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.tampabay.com/rays/2009/12/maddon-bartlett-at-the-top-and-other-things.html |author= Marc Topkin|title=Maddon: Bartlett at the top, and other things |publisher=tampabay.com |date=December 8, 2009 |access-date=March 19, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113095824/http://blogs.tampabay.com/rays/2009/12/maddon-bartlett-at-the-top-and-other-things.html |archive-date=January 13, 2010 }}</ref>

Heading into [[spring training]] in 2010, Kapler was likely to platoon in right field with Joyce.<ref>{{cite web|author=Bill Chastain|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100226&content_id=8155550&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |title=Hard work has Joyce back in Majors mix Outfielder ready to use learning experience to help Rays win", February 26, 2010|work=Mlb.com |date=May 31, 2009 |access-date=March 19, 2010}}</ref> However, he appeared in only 59 games that season, hitting a career-worst .210 with only two home runs as he battled right [[hip flexor]] and right ankle injuries, and became a [[free agent]] after the season.<ref name=autogenerated9 /><ref name=autogenerated10 />

===Los Angeles Dodgers===
On January 18, 2011, Kapler signed a minor league contract with the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Nicholson-Smith|first1=Ben|title=Dodgers Sign Gabe Kapler|url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/01/dodgers-sign-gabe-kapler.html|access-date=November 9, 2014|publisher=MLB Trade Rumors|date=January 18, 2011}}</ref> He also received an invitation to spring training. Kapler was released on March 31, in the team's last cut of spring training.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gurnick|first1=Ken|title=Dodgers add Kapler, Gasparino to staff|url=http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/100843068/dodgers-add-gabe-kapler-billy-gasparino-to-staff|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109195706/http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/100843068/dodgers-add-gabe-kapler-billy-gasparino-to-staff|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 9, 2014|access-date=November 9, 2014|work=MLB.com|date=November 7, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailynews.com/2012/08/20/sign-of-the-times-taft-grad-former-mlb-player-kapler-invests-in-new-signs-of-the-times/|author= Tom Hoffarth |title=Sign of the Times: Taft grad, former MLB player Kapler invests in new signs of the times|date=August 20, 2012|work=Los Angeles Daily News|access-date=November 2, 2017}}</ref>

==Post-playing career==
===Team Israel===
Kapler coached for the [[Israeli national baseball team]] in the [[2013 World Baseball Classic – Qualifier 1|2013 World Baseball Classic qualifier]] in September 2012.<ref name="nj.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/mets/index.ssf/2013/03/mets_q-and-a_with_josh_satin.html|title=Mets' Q-and-A with utility player Josh Satin|author=Jorge Castillo|date=March 3, 2013 |work= The Star-Ledger |access-date=November 2, 2017}}</ref> Israel lost to Spain in extra innings in the Pool Finals, and did not qualify to play in the World Baseball Classic.<ref name="autogenerated3">{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121025&content_id=40043052&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou |author= Corey Brock |title=Padres prospect Freiman looks to raise his game; First baseman enjoys the competition in World Classic, Arizona Fall League|work=mlb.com |date= October 25, 2012|access-date=March 12, 2013}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated6">{{cite web|url=http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121206&content_id=40552520&vkey=pr_hou&c_id=hou |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511203934/http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121206&content_id=40552520&vkey=pr_hou&c_id=hou |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 11, 2013 |title=Astros select Fields, Freiman in Major League portion of Rule 5 Draft |work=mlb.com |date=December 6, 2012|access-date=March 12, 2013}}</ref>

===Egraphs===
From 2012 to 2013, Kapler worked closely with technology startup Egraphs, which focused on electronic personalized autographs, and which was licensed with MLB and the NBA.<ref name="insidesocal.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.insidesocal.com/tomhoffarth/2013/05/02/why-egraphs-finally-had-to-sign-off/|author= Tom Hoffarth|title=Why Egraphs finally had to sign off|work= Farther Off the Wall|date=May 2, 2013|access-date=November 3, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.geekwire.com/2013/egraph-shuts-due-unforeseen-obstacles/|title=Electronic autograph startup eGraphs runs out of cash, shuts down|author=Taylor Soper|work=GeekWire|date=April 30, 2013|access-date=November 3, 2017}}</ref> In spring 2013, Egraphs closed operations.<ref>{{cite web|author=Egraphs |url=https://twitter.com/egraphs?lang=en |title=Egraphs (@egraphs) |publisher=Twitter |access-date=October 30, 2017}}</ref><ref name="insidesocal.com"/>

===Television work===
In the summer of 2013, Kapler became an analyst for [[Fox Sports 1]] cable network.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sbnation.com/2013/8/9/4606902/fox-sports-1-gabe-kapler-randy-moss|title=Fox Sports hires Gabe Kapler, possibly Randy Moss|work=SBNation|author= Steve Lepore|date= August 9, 2013 |access-date=November 6, 2017}}</ref> He appeared frequently on the network's ''[[Fox Sports Live]]'' program from the network's debut on August 17, 2013, as well as ''[[MLB Whiparound]]'' from the program's inception in March 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gammonsdaily.com/about-2/gabe-kapler-qa/|title=Gabe Kapler Q&A|website=Gammons Daily|access-date=November 8, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/reynolds-verducci-join-buck-for-mlb-on-fox-030314|title=Reynolds & Verducci join Buck for MLB on FOX|work=Fox Sports|date=March 3, 2014|access-date=November 8, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://section215.com/2017/10/30/philadelphia-phillies-manager-gabe-kapler/|title=Get to know the Philadelphia Phillies new manager Gabe Kapler|author= Matty Breisch |work=FanSided|date=October 30, 2017|access-date=November 8, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://realsport101.com/news/sports/mlb/philadelphia-phillies-5-things-to-know-about-new-manager-gabe-kapler/|title=Philadelphia Phillies: 5 things to know about new manager Gabe Kapler |work= RealSport|date=October 30, 2017|access-date=November 8, 2017}}</ref> Two of his segments were "Saberclips", in which he explained advanced statistics and [[sabermetrics]] used in baseball, and also "In the Cage", in which he shared advice with young baseball players as to how to train when they hit the batting cage.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2017/11/5/16579276/phillies-gabe-kapler-new-manager-eagles-chip-kelly-comparisons|title=Examining the parallels between Gabe Kapler and Chip Kelly|access-date=November 8, 2017|author=Devan Fink|date=November 5, 2017|work=Beyond the Boxscore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/hashtag/saberclips?src=hash|title=#saberclips hashtag on Twitter|website=twitter.com|access-date=November 8, 2017}}</ref> He also worked as a writer and analyst at [[Baseball Prospectus]], which is devoted to the sabermetric baseball analysis.<ref name=autogenerated11 />

===Los Angeles Dodgers===
On November 7, 2014, Kapler became the Dodgers' director of player development.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/24788859/dodgers-name-gabe-kapler-as-director-of-player-development|title=Dodgers name Gabe Kapler as Director of Player Development|work=CBS Sports|access-date=November 2, 2017}}</ref> In that position, Kapler had all the affiliates in the Dodgers farm system, as well as the major league team, switch to serving entirely [[organic food]], and take junk food out of the clubhouse.<ref name="autogenerated4">{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/phillies/index.ssf/2017/10/why_gabe_kapler_is_fascinating_outside-the-box_man.html |title=Why Gabe Kapler is fascinating outside-the-box managerial candidate for Phillies|author=Joe Giglio |publisher=NJ.com |date=October 25, 2017 |access-date=October 30, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/los-angeles/dodger-report/post/_/id/13175/dodgers-going-organic-this-season|title=Dodgers going organic this season|work=ESPN|first=Mark|last=Saxon|date=February 27, 2015|access-date=December 8, 2015}}</ref> Kapler, known as a proponent of advanced statistics and healthy food, explained his flexible general approach, saying: <blockquote>One thing we want to do is avoid locking ourselves into any organizational philosophy that can't be easily altered or improved. While mining for best practices, we have overarching themes and philosophies, but we don't want to say, 'This is what we believe' and get so dug in that we're not capable of being nimble as new studies present better ways to approach problems and development. That flexibility is a thought process that we have to constantly talk about it with players and staff.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dodgersnation.com/gabe-kapler-brings-changes-to-dodgers-player-development/2015/01/20/|title=Gabe Kapler Brings Changes To Dodgers Player Development|author= Vincent Samperio|work= Dodgers Nation|date=January 20, 2015|access-date=November 2, 2017}}</ref></blockquote>

In 2015, a 17-year-old accused a Dodger minor league player initially of videotaping a fight in which two women whom she had met through Facebook hit her while with her in a hotel room of a player. The accuser emailed her complaint to Kapler. He sought direction from Dodgers' lawyers and human resources personnel and then replied quickly with a phone call, apologized, and offered to help in any way she needed. A week later—when the accuser was arrested for shoplifting—she added the second accusation to police, though she did not communicate it to Dodgers personnel, that at the time a Dodger minor league player engaged in alleged sexual assault by briefly putting his hand under her bra and down her pants; the accuser then declined to cooperate with the police, and no charges were filed.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/told-of-girls-assault-at-spring-training-hotel-gabe-kapler-dodger-didnt-alert-police/2019/02/01/45da0208-2624-11e9-81fd-b7b05d5bed90_story.html|title=Told of girl's assault at spring training hotel, Gabe Kapler, Dodgers didn't alert police|last1=Hobson|first1=Will|last2=Red|first2=Christian|date=February 1, 2019|newspaper=Washington Post|language=en|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202073411/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/told-of-girls-assault-at-spring-training-hotel-gabe-kapler-dodgers-didnt-alert-police/2019/02/01/45da0208-2624-11e9-81fd-b7b05d5bed90_story.html|archive-date=2019-02-02|access-date=2019-11-17|last3=Thompson|first3=Teri}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mlb.nbcsports.com/2019/02/02/report-gabe-kapler-didnt-tell-police-about-assault-while-with-dodgers/|title=Report: Gabe Kapler didn't tell police about assault while with Dodgers|last=Calcaterra|first=Craig|date=2019-02-02|website=HardballTalk|language=en|access-date=2019-11-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2019/11/13/questions-surround-kaplers-handling-of-sexual-assault-allegations-against-dodgers-players/|title=Questions Surround Kapler's Handling Of Sexual Assault Allegations Against Dodgers Players|author= Andria Borba|date=November 13, 2019|work=CBS |language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.inquirer.com/phillies/gabe-kapler-san-francisco-giants-manager-philadelphia-phillies-sexual-assault-allegations-los-angeles-dodgers-20191114.html|title=Gabe Kapler forced to defend managerial record, handling of 2015 incident with Dodgers in introductory grilling as Giants manager|last=Lauber|first=Scott|date=November 13, 2019|website=The Philadelphia Inquirer|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-17}}</ref> Kapler reported the accusation of the videotaping of the assault to Dodgers personnel, who did not report it to Major League Baseball.<ref name=":0">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2019/02/05/nick-francona-gabe-kapler-controversy-los-angeles-dodgers-assault-allegations|title=Is Nick Francona a whistleblower or just disgruntled?|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=February 5, 2019|language=en|access-date=November 17, 2019|author=Jon Wertheim}}</ref> Kapler has apologized for his handling of the allegations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nesn.com/2019/11/gabe-kapler-apologizes-for-mishandling-2015-assault-allegations-with-dodgers/|title=Gabe Kapler Apologizes For Mishandling 2015 Assault Allegations With Dodgers|author=Abigail Adams|date=November 13, 2019 |publisher=NESN|language=en-US|access-date=November 17, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/giants/giants-gabe-kapler-shares-his-side-dodgers-assault-controversy|title=Kapler shares his regrets from Dodgers assault controversy|date=2019-11-14|website=NBCS Bay Area|access-date=2019-11-17}}</ref>

Kapler was one of the favorites and a finalist to become the new Dodgers manager following the departure of [[Don Mattingly]], but lost out to [[Dave Roberts (outfielder)|Dave Roberts]] prior to the 2016 season.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2015/11/09/los-angeles-dodgers-manager-dave-roberts-gabe-kapler|title=Report: Dave Roberts, Gabe Kapler top candidates for Dodgers manager|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=November 9, 2015|access-date=December 8, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/gabe-kapler-calls-dodgers-manager-dave-roberts--exceptional-individual-232653565.html|title=Gabe Kapler calls Dodgers manager Dave Roberts 'exceptional individual'|work=Yahoo! Sports|first=Chris|last=Cwik|date=November 23, 2015|access-date=December 8, 2015}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated4" />

==Managerial career==
===Philadelphia Phillies (2018–2019)===
[[File:Gabe Kapler in Miami.png|thumb|right|Kapler in 2019]]
On October 30, 2017, the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] announced that they had hired the 42-year-old Kapler as their new manager, the 54th in team history.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/10/phillies-likely-to-hire-gabe-kapler-as-manager.html|title=Phillies Hire Gabe Kapler As Manager|website=MLB Trade Rumors|access-date=November 2, 2017|date=October 30, 2017|author=Mark Polishuk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/phillies-name-gabe-kapler-manager-c260042954|title=Phillies name Gabe Kapler manager; Former MLB outfielder was finalist for Dodgers' job in 2015|author=Todd Zolecki|website=Major League Baseball|access-date=November 2, 2017|date=October 30, 2017}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated11" /> Phillies General Manager [[Matt Klentak]] and principal owner [[John S. Middleton|John Middleton]] said that what most impressed them during Kapler's interview, which included people across several team departments, were his level of preparation and his people skills, evidenced by his ability to connect with each one of the groups.<ref name="autogenerated12" />

Kapler inherited a team that had lost 96 games their prior season, the team's sixth season in a row with a losing record.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/01/sports/baseball/phillies-gabe-kapler-.html|title=Gabe Kapler Is Unlike Any Manager Phillies Fans Have Known (and Booed)|first=Tyler|last=Kepner|date=April 1, 2018|access-date=April 2, 2018|work=The New York Times}}</ref> He had his theme for the season inscribed on t-shirts that were given out to each of his players: "Be Bold."<ref name="autogenerated12" /> After 100 games, he had the second-most wins among Phillies managers historically (56), and he went 24-38 in the last 62 games, to finish the 2018 season 80-82.<ref>{{cite web|last=Zolecki |first=Todd |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/chris-young-is-new-phillies-pitching-coach/c-300710724 |title=Chris Young is new Phillies pitching coach |work=Mlb.com |date=November 14, 2018 |access-date=November 13, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/sports/phillies/phillies-managers-gabe-kapler-first-100-games-charlie-manuel-jim-fregosi-pete-mackanin-20180725.html|title=Gabe Kapler has second-most wins among Phillies managers after first 100 games|first=Ed|last=Barkowitz|date=July 25, 2018|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer}}</ref> The 27 overturns caused by his challenges were tied for the second-most in the majors, and the 4.7 pitchers per game he used were second-most in the major leagues.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/2018-managers.shtml|title=2018 Major League Baseball Managers|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> The Phillies were in first place as late as August 12, but only won 21 games in the last two months of the season.

In 2019 he managed the team to an {{winpct|81|81|record=y}} record, Philadelphia's best record since 2012 when they also had a .500 record.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thatballsouttahere.com/2019/09/29/phillies-end-2019-season/|author=John Town|work=FanSided|title=Phillies end 2019 season with 81–81 record, improve one win|date=September 29, 2019}}</ref> The 23 overturns caused by his challenges were tied for the second-most in the majors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/2019-managers.shtml|title=2019 Major League Baseball Managers|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> As in 2018, the Phillies spent most of the season in playoff contention, only to slump in August and September. Following the season, Kapler was fired.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/27813181/philadelphia-phillies-fire-manager-gabe-kapler|title=Phils fire Kapler after 2 seasons without playoffs|date=October 10, 2019|website=ESPN}}</ref> [[Joe Girardi]] succeeded him and managed the team to a {{winpct|28|32|record=y}} record the following season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lewistownsentinel.com/uncategorized/2020/09/phils-miss-out-on-playoffs-after-loss/|title=Phils miss out on playoffs after loss|date=September 28, 2020 |work=The Sentinel}}</ref>

===San Francisco Giants (2020–2023)===
====2020====
In November 2019, the San Francisco Giants hired Kapler as [[List of San Francisco Giants managers|their 39th manager]], succeeding the retiring [[Bruce Bochy]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Kerry Crowley |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/11/12/giants-pick-ousted-phillies-manager-gabe-kapler-to-succeed-bruce-bochy/ |title=SF Giants hire Gabe Kapler, ex-Phillies manager|date=November 12, 2019 |work=Mercury News|access-date=November 13, 2019}}</ref> He inherited a team that had a win–loss record of {{winpct|77|85|record=y}} in 2019.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Shapiro |first=Michael |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2019/11/13/giants-hire-gabe-kapler-as-manager |date=November 12, 2019|title=Giants hire former Phillies manager Gabe Kapler |magazine=Sports Illustrated |access-date=2019-11-14}}</ref>

In 2020, after Kapler hired three hitting coaches who were young enough to still be players, the Giants veteran hitters raved about how well prepared they were going into games with the new approach. Kapler platooned whenever he thought he could get an advantage, and the resulting turnaround with the Giants hitters was significant.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/from-bochy-to-kapler-what-the-giants-proved-and-didnt-in-year-one-with-a-new-manager|author=Kerry Crowley|work=Mercury News|title=From Bochy to Kapler: What the Giants proved (and didn't) in year one with a new manager|date=September 28, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.knbr.com/2020/09/28/what-went-right-for-the-2020-giants/|title=What went right for the 2020 Giants?|first=Mark W.|last=Sanchez|date=September 28, 2020|website=KNBR-AF}}</ref><ref name="auto3">{{Cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/five-giants-silver-linings-tough-184252222.html|title=Five Giants silver linings after tough finish to 2020 MLB season|website=Yahoo|date=September 28, 2020|author=Alex Pavlovic}}</ref> While the team had ranked 28th, 29th, and 29th in runs the prior three seasons, under Kapler they finished 8th in runs, averaging 4.98 runs per game, up from 4.19 the prior year and 3.72 in 2018.<ref name="auto3"/> Kapler used 1.25 [[pinch hitter]]s per game, more than any other manager in major league baseball, and the third-most pitchers per game (4.9).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/2020-managers.shtml|title=2020 Major League Baseball Managers|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> Both new and veteran players responded positively to Kapler, and a number of them highlighted his steadiness as a factor in turning around slumping years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.knbr.com/2020/09/26/a-frustrated-gabe-kapler-changes-tone-ahead-of-season-deciding-sunday/|title=A frustrated Gabe Kapler changes tone ahead of season-deciding Sunday|first=Mark W.|last=Sanchez|date=September 26, 2020|website=KNBR-AF}}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/giants-season-a-successful-failure-hinging-on-many-kapler-decisions/ar-BB19tQCR?ocid=hplocalnews|title=Giants' season was a successful failure that hinged on Kapler decisions|website=MSN}}</ref> In the [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports#North America|pandemic-shortened 2020 season]], he managed the team to a {{winpct|29|31|record=y}} record that far exceeded expectations in what was expected to be a rebuilding year, and surpassed the record of Kapler's former team, the Phillies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2090046/2020/09/24/gabe-kaplers-resourcefulness-pays-off-as-giants-improve-their-playoff-odds/|title=Gabe Kapler's resourcefulness pays off as Giants improve their playoff odds|first=Andrew|last=Baggarly|website=The Athletic|date=September 24, 2020}}</ref><ref name="auto1"/><ref name="auto2"/> The Giants fell just short of making the playoffs, which they would have made had they won their last game of the season, a game they lost by one run.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-twitter-explodes-rob-drakes-230911016.html|title=Giants Twitter explodes as Rob Drake's bad strike-three call ends 2020 season|website=Yahoo|author=Ali Thanawalla|date=September 27, 2020}}</ref><ref name="auto3"/> They ended up with the same win–loss record as the [[Milwaukee Brewers]], but it was the Brewers that advanced to the playoffs as they had a better in-division record.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-surprising-push-mlb-playoffs-010047461.html|title=Giants' surprising push for MLB playoffs spot comes up one rally short|author=Alex Pavlovic|date=September 27, 2020|website=Yahoo}}</ref> Kapler received three third-place votes for NL [[Major League Baseball Manager of the Year Award|Manager of the Year]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aroundthefoghorn.com/2020/11/11/sf-giants-gabe-kapler-moy-votes/|title=SF Giants Gabe Kapler Receives Manager of the Year Votes|date=November 11, 2020|author=Jeff Young|work=Fansided}}</ref>

====2021: NL Manager of the Year ====
Kapler began the 2021 season with a coaching staff of 13 that included nine who had never been on a major league staff before he hired them, and most of them were young enough to be playing themselves.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/giants/how-gabe-kapler-giants-put-together-innovative-coaching-staff|title=Kapler's vision for Giants coaching staff helped quick turnaround|website=NBC Sports|date=October 7, 2021|author=Alex Pavlovic}}</ref> Kapler won his 200th game as a manager in April 2021, becoming the first manager in MLB history with a 200–200 win–loss record over the first 400 games of his career.<ref>{{cite web|first=Maria|last=Guardado|title=Giants 'set tone' with shutout vs. Phils|url=https://www.mlb.com/giants/news/kevin-gausman-giants-shutout-phillies|website=MLB.com|date=April 20, 2021|access-date=April 20, 2021}}</ref>

In the 2021 regular season, his Giants won more games than any other major league team (107; with his team's winning percentage rising from .483 to .660), the 12 overturns caused by his challenges were tied with those of LA's Dave Roberts for the most in the majors, and he was one of only two managers who were not ejected during the season (along with Tampa Bay's Kevin Cash).<ref name="auto4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/2021-managers.shtml|title=2021 Major League Baseball Managers|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> He used more pinch hitters per game than any other major league manager for the second season in a row (2.60), and the second-most pitchers per game (4.7).<ref name="auto4"/> Kapler ended the 2021 season with a Giants managerial win-loss percentage of .613, third all-time of the Giants' 39 managers, behind only Hall of Famers [[Hughie Jennings]] and [[Rogers Hornsby]], each of whom managed for less than a year nearly a century earlier.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SFG/managers.shtml|title=San Francisco Giants Managers|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>

Kapler's players praised him for keeping open lines of communication with them throughout the season, which was especially important given that he used the team's entire roster, shattering the MLB record for pinch-hit appearances as he exploited matchups aggressively.<ref name="auto5">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/gabe-kapler-wins-2021-nl-manager-of-the-year-award|title=Stunning season earns Kapler NL MOY|website=MLB.com|date=November 16, 2021|author=Steve Gilbert}}</ref>

Kapler was named the 2021 [[Major League Baseball Manager of the Year Award|National League Manager of the Year]] by the [[Baseball Writers' Association of America]], with 28 of a possible 30 first place votes. He became the second Giants manager to win the award, joining [[Dusty Baker]], after managing the team to a franchise-record 107 wins and into the postseason for the first time in five years, despite pre-season projections that questioned the Giants' ability even to finish above .500 ([[Baseball Prospectus]] projected the team to win 75 games, entering the season).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-manager-of-the-year-award-winners-2021|title=MLB Manager of the Year Award Winners 2021|first=Anthony|last=Castrovince|website=[[MLB.com]]|date=November 16, 2021|accessdate=November 17, 2021}}</ref><ref name="auto5"/>
[[File:Gabe Kapler 2022 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|215px|Kapler with the Giants in 2022.]]
Kapler was also named the [[Sporting News Manager of the Year Award|''Sporting News'' 2021 NL Manager of the Year]], as 86% of his fellow National League managers voted for him.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/giants/giants-buster-posey-honored-mlb-players-comeback-season|title=Posey honored by players for comeback season with Giants|website=NBC Sports|date=October 28, 2021|author=Alex Pavlovic }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2021/10/29/22752036/mlb-2021-san-francisco-giants-sporting-news-awards-buster-posey-gabe-kapler-farhan-zaidi|title=SF Giants News: Giants lead 2021 Sporting News MLB Awards|first=Sami|last=Higgins|date=October 29, 2021|website=McCovey Chronicles}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/buster-posey-gabe-kapler-farhan-zaidi-earn-sporting-news-honors/ar-AAQ3K4E|title=Buster Posey, Gabe Kapler, Farhan Zaidi earn Sporting News honors|author=Susan Slusser|date=October 28, 2021|website=MSN}}</ref>

On November 12, the Giants rewarded Kapler with a two-year contract extension through the 2024 season.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/After-107-wins-Giants-extend-manager-Gabe-16616715.php |title=After 107 wins, Giants extend manager Gabe Kapler's contract two years through 2024 |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |author=Shea, John |date=November 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211113150426/https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/After-107-wins-Giants-extend-manager-Gabe-16616715.php |archive-date=November 13, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

====2022====
In the aftermath of the [[Robb Elementary School Shooting]] and other mass shootings in the US, on May 27, 2022, Kapler announced he was not happy with the direction of the country. In protest, he said that he will not come out of the dugout for the national anthem until he deems the country to be back on a better track.<ref name=protest-anthem>{{cite magazine| last=Postins| first=Matthew| url=https://www.si.com/mlb/rangers/news/gabe-kapler-san-francisco-giants-uvalde-shooting-dak-prescott-texas-dallas-cowboys |title=Rangers Ex Gabe Kapler: 'Not OK With State of This Country,' Says Protesting Giants Manager | magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]| publisher=si.com| date=May 27, 2022 |access-date=May 27, 2022}}</ref>

In 2022, Kapler used more pinch hitters per game, 1.63, than any other major league manager for the third season in a row.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/2022-managers.shtml|title=2022 Major League Baseball Managers|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>

====2023====
The Giants were eliminated with six games to play in the 2023 season, making it the third time in Kapler's tenure that they did not reach the postseason. This happened on the heels of a slide that saw them go 2–8 on a home stand and win just three times in their last 17 road games. Responding to pitcher [[Logan Webb]]'s demand for making "big changes," Kapler stated, "We all have responsibility to raise the bar to the highest possible expectations, to not accept losing and expect to win every night and to go quickly back to make adjustments and we haven't met that standard."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/09/26/gabe-kapler-totally-agrees-with-logan-webbs-critique-of-sf-giants/|title=Gabe Kapler "totally agrees" with Logan Webb's critique of SF Giants|date=September 27, 2023}}</ref> The Giants fired Kapler three days later, with [[Kai Correa]] taking over as the interim manager for the remainder of the season.<ref>{{cite news |last=Passan |first=Jeff |title=Giants fire Gabe Kapler after 4 seasons, 1 playoff trip |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/38522501/giants-fire-gabe-kapler-4-seasons-1-playoff-trip |work=ESPN |date=September 29, 2023 |access-date=September 29, 2023}}</ref>

===Managerial record===
{{updated|games played on September 27, 2023}}

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"|Team !! rowspan="2"|Year !! colspan="5"|Regular season !! colspan="4"|Postseason
|-
!Games!!Won!!Lost!!Win %!!Finish!! Won !! Lost !! Win % !! Result
|-
![[2018 Philadelphia Phillies season|PHI]]||[[2018 MLB season|2018]]
||162||80||82||{{Winning percentage|80|82}}|| 3rd in NL East ||–
| – || – || 
|-
![[2019 Philadelphia Phillies season|PHI]]||[[2019 MLB season|2019]]
||162||81||81||{{Winning percentage|81|81}}|| 4th in NL East || – || – || – || 
|-
! colspan="2"|PHI Total||324||161||163||{{Winning percentage|161|163}}|||| 0 || 0 || .000 || 
|-
![[2020 San Francisco Giants season|SF]]||[[2020 MLB season|2020]]
||60||29||31||{{Winning percentage|29|31}}|| 3rd in NL West || –|| – || – || 
|-! style="background:#fdd;"
![[2021 San Francisco Giants season|SF]]||[[2021 MLB season|2021]]
||162||107||55||{{Winning percentage|107|55}}||'''1st in NL West''' || 2 || 3 || .400 || Lost [[2021 National League Division Series|NLDS]] ([[2021 Los Angeles Dodgers season|LAD]])
|- 
![[2022 San Francisco Giants season|SF]]||[[2022 MLB season|2022]]
||162||81||81||{{Winning percentage|81|81}}|| 3rd in NL West ||–
| – || – || 
|-
![[2023 San Francisco Giants season|SF]]||[[2023 MLB season|2023]]
||159||78||81||{{Winning percentage|78|81}}|| 4th in NL West ||–
| – || – || 
|-
! colspan="2"|SF Total||543||295||248||{{Winning percentage|295|248}}|||| 2 || 3 || .400 ||
|-
! colspan="2"|Total||870||456||411||{{Winning percentage|456|411}}|||| 2 || 3 || .400 ||
|}

==Front office career==
===Miami Marlins (2023–present)===
In December 2023, Kapler became an assistant general manager of the [[Miami Marlins]] of MLB.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/marlins-hire-vinesh-kanthan-as-director-of-baseball-operations|title=Front-office hires Kanthan, Kapler debut at WM|website=MLB.com}}</ref>  He worked under the Marlins' new president of baseball operations [[Peter Bendix]], formerly a member of the Tampa Bay Rays front office during Kapler's time with the team as a player in 2009–10.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/marlins-hire-ex-giants-manager-gabe-kapler-to-front-office-role-per-report/|title=Marlins hire ex-Giants manager Gabe Kapler to front-office role, per report|date=December 1, 2023|website=CBSSports.com}}</ref>  Kapler's primary focus was on player development within the Marlins’ system, and he was involved in all areas of baseball operations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/12/marlins-hire-gabe-kapler-assistant-general-manager.html|title=Marlins To Hire Gabe Kapler As Assistant General Manager|date=December 1, 2023|website=MLB Trade Rumors}}</ref><ref name="a161">{{cite web | last=Young | first=Jeff | title=Former SF Giants manager Gabe Kapler lands new gig with Miami Marlins | website=Around the Foghorn | date=2023-12-03 | url=https://aroundthefoghorn.com/posts/former-sf-giants-manager-gabe-kapler-lands-new-gig-with-miami-marlins-01hgp39b3wg3 | access-date=2024-10-11}}</ref> On November 3, 2025, the Marlins promoted Kapler to general manager.<ref>{{cite news |title=Marlins promote Gabe Kapler to GM amid front office changes |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46835497/marlins-promote-gabe-kapler-gm-amid-front-office-changes |access-date=November 3, 2025 |agency=Associated Press |publisher=ESPN.com |date=November 3, 2025}}</ref>

==Accolades==
In 2006 he was inducted into the [[Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scjewishsportshof.com/kapler.html|title=Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame; Gabe Kapler|website=scjewishsportshof.com}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Kapler lived in [[Tarzana, Los Angeles|Tarzana]], California, with his wife, Lisa (Jansen), whom he married in January 1999.<ref> Eric Sondheimer, “Kapler’s Career Has Received a Big Lift,” ''Los Angeles Times'', September 2, 1998: C10.</ref> They had two sons, and eventually the Kapler family moved to [[Northern Liberties, Philadelphia]], after he became the manager of the Phillies and then to [[North Beach, San Francisco]], after he became the manager of the Giants.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.knbr.com/2020/07/22/murph-the-curious-case-of-gabe-kapler/|title=Murph: The Curious Case of Gabe Kapler|author=Brian Murphy|date=July 22, 2020|website=KNBR}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DM&p_theme=dm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0ED822B625C610CF&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM | first=Michael | last=Granberry|work=Dallas Morning News|url-access=subscription |date=June 3, 2000|title=Touching Base with Gabe Kapler}}</ref><ref name=autogenerated12/><ref name=autogenerated8 /><ref name=autogenerated10>[https://www.mlb.com/player/gabe-kapler-137002 "Gabe Kapler Stats, Fantasy & News,"<!-- Bot generated title -->] MLB.com</ref> He and his wife, whom he met in his senior year of high school, are now divorced.<ref name=autogenerated6 /><ref>{{cite book|last1=Rutttman|first1=Larry|title=American Jews and America's Game: Voices of a Growing Legacy in Baseball|date=2013|publisher=University of Nebraska Press|isbn=9780803264823|page=416|author-link1=Larry Ruttman}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Parent |first1=Rob |title=Kapler taking baby steps as he gets to know his new team |url=https://www.delcotimes.com/sports/parent-kapler-taking-baby-steps-as-he-gets-to-know/article_3fa3ae46-0cca-5260-b36e-a76c828fefb1.html|date=January 6, 2018 |work=Delaware County Daily Times |access-date=March 26, 2019}}</ref>

Longtime ''Boston Globe'' columnist [[Bob Ryan]]—who said of Kapler "He's as smart as any player I've ever met"—nicknamed him "The Body".<ref name=autogenerated12/><ref>{{cite news|last1=Santoli|first1=Michael|title=Gabe Kapler: From beefy ballplayer to healthy-lifestyle guru|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/breakout/gabe-kapler--from-beefy-ballplayer-to-healthy-lifestyle-guru-163643190.html|access-date=November 9, 2014|publisher=Yahoo!|date=June 23, 2014}}</ref> He is an avid [[weightlifter]]; his [[body fat percentage|body fat count]] was reported in 2000 to be at 3.98%, and in 2012 to be at 3.5%.<ref name=autogenerated9 /><ref name=autogenerated13 /> He was on the cover of several fitness magazines and became renowned for being the focus of an entire [[K-Swiss]] shoe campaign before he had even reached the pros.<ref name=autogenerated11>Ryan Lawrence (October 31, 2017). [http://www.phillyvoice.com/who-gabe-kapler-dozen-fun-facts-about-new-phillies-manager/ "Who is Gabe Kapler? A Dozen Fun Facts about the new Phillies manager,"<!-- Bot generated title -->] ''PhillyVoice''.</ref> His blog discusses fitness, nutrition, health, and leadership.<ref name=autogenerated11 />

Kapler and his wife co-founded the Gabe Kapler Foundation, which is dedicated to educating the public about [[domestic violence]], and helping women escape [[abusive relationship]]s.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WjThAAAAMAAJ&q=%22gabe+kapler%22 |title=Men and Feminism|author= Shira Tarrant|publisher= Seal Press|isbn=978-1-58005-258-0 |year=2009 |access-date=March 19, 2010}}</ref>

In an undated clubhouse poll of the Red Sox, of the 25 players on the team, 24 were [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]s and Kapler the one [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/sports/rap_sheet/?p=2026 |title=One random question: Who are you voting for? |last=Tomase |first=John |work=Boston Herald |date=January 8, 2008 |access-date=March 12, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124034949/http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/sports/rap_sheet/?p=2026|archive-date=January 24, 2010}}</ref>

Kapler's father died in December 2020 from [[Parkinson's disease]] and [[Lewy body dementias|Lewy body dementia]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Dalton |title=Giants' Father's Day win special for Long and Kapler |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/giants/giants-fathers-day-win-special-sammy-long-gabe-kapler |access-date=May 14, 2022 |publisher=NBC Sports |date=June 20, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kroner |first1=Steve |title=For Giants' manager Gabe Kapler, a 'somewhat emotional' Father's Day |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/giants/article/For-Giants-manager-Gabe-Kapler-a-somewhat-16260897.php |access-date=May 14, 2022 |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=June 20, 2021}}</ref> Prior to the start of the 2022 season, Kapler received a prominent tattoo on his left hand to memorialize his father.<ref name="keownt"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Madrigal-Yankowski |first1=Nico |title=San Francisco Giants' Gabe Kapler maybe just became the first manager with a hand tattoo |url=https://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/Gabe-Kapler-hand-tattoo-Giants-manager-MLB-17028911.php |access-date=May 14, 2022 |publisher=SFGate |date=March 25, 2022}}</ref>

==Jewish heritage==
Kapler is [[Jewish]], and to honor his heritage, has a [[Star of David]] [[tattoo]]ed on his left calf, with the inscription "Strong Willed, Strong Minded" in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], and the post-[[Holocaust]] motto "[[Never again|Never Again]]" with a flame and the dates of the Holocaust on his right calf.<ref name=autogenerated12/> He describes his background as "[[Jewish secularism|culturally Jewish]].... I was—and am—proud of my heritage, but don't practice religion," and as to being a Jewish Major Leaguer said: "That's something I take great pride in.... I'm very interested in my heritage and I'm very proud of who I am."<ref name=autogenerated9 /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/how-i-was-fooled-by-chad-curtis-religious-beliefs-040714|title=How I was fooled by Chad Curtis's religious beliefs|last=Kapler|first=Gabe|date=April 7, 2014|work=Fox Sports|access-date=April 9, 2014}}</ref> He has 14 total tattoos.<ref name=autogenerated12/><ref name="auto"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Where Have You Gone, Sandy Koufax|url=http://heebmagazine.com/where-have-you-gone-sandy-koufax-4/1059|access-date=November 9, 2014|work=[[Heeb]]|date=February 1, 2004}}</ref>

Kapler has been given the nickname '''Hebrew Hammer'''<ref>{{cite web |last=Couch |first=Greg |url=http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2007/09/20/gabe-kapler-plans-to-return-to-the-field/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070623105247/http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2007/09/20/gabe-kapler-plans-to-return-to-the-field/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 23, 2007 |title=Gabe Kapler Plans to Return to the Field|work=FanHouse |date=September 20, 2007 |access-date=March 16, 2010 }}</ref> due to his frequent longball hits, along with his muscularity and the fact that he is Jewish. It later became the nickname of [[Ryan Braun]], who is also Jewish, and was Kapler's teammate on the Brewers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/spring2008/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&id=3260725 |title=New faces, position changes for Brewers this spring |publisher=ESPN |date=February 24, 2008 |author=Jerry Crasnick|access-date=March 12, 2009}}</ref> On August 8, 2005, while playing for the Red Sox, Kapler took the field in the 9th inning along with [[Kevin Youkilis]] and [[Adam Stern]], setting a "record" for the most Jewish players on the field at one time in [[American League]] history and the most in Major League Baseball history since four Jews took the field for the [[New York Giants (NL)|New York Giants]] in a game in 1941.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jewishtribune.ca/tribune/jt-050929-21.html |title=It started as a great idea, then fate stepped in |work=Jewish Tribune |author=Shlomo Kapustin |date=September 29, 2005 |access-date=March 12, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081116065612/http://www.jewishtribune.ca/tribune/jt-050929-21.html |archive-date=November 16, 2008}}</ref>

In 2008, with his career 69th home run he passed [[Art Shamsky]] and [[Lou Boudreau]] for 9th on the all-time list for home runs by Jewish major leaguers.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20120711003607/http://jewishmajorleaguers.org/crrldrs/crrldrs.html "Career Batting Leaders through 2007]}}," jewishmajorleaguers.org. Retrieved September 15, 2008.</ref> Kapler was the unanimous winner of the 2008 Jewish Comeback Player of the Year award.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.njjewishnews.com/njjn.com/010109/sptYoukilis.html |title=Youkilis, Grabow, Kapler named best Jewish Major Leaguers |work=[[New Jersey Jewish News]] |author=Ron Kaplan |date=January 1, 2009 |access-date=March 12, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090509170445/http://www.njjewishnews.com/njjn.com/010109/sptYoukilis.html |archive-date=May 9, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Through 2018, he was 5th all-time in career stolen bases (behind Brad Ausmus) and 9th all-time in career doubles (behind [[Sid Gordon]]) among Jewish major league baseball players.<ref name=JML>{{cite web|title=Career Batting Leaders through 2010|url=http://www.jewishmajorleaguers.org/|work=Career Leaders|publisher=Jewish Major Leaguers|access-date=February 10, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809172233/http://jewishmajorleaguers.org/|archive-date=August 9, 2019|url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref>[http://www.jewishbaseballnews.com/stats-leaders-batting/ "All-time Jewish batting leaders; Through 2018,"] ''Jewish Baseball News''.</ref>

In 2018, Kapler became the eighth Jewish manager in MLB history.<ref name=autogenerated11 /> He joined [[Bob Melvin]], [[Brad Ausmus]], [[Jeff Newman (baseball)|Jeff Newman]], [[Norm Sherry]], [[Andy Cohen (baseball)|Andy Cohen]], and [[Lipman Pike]].<ref name=autogenerated11 />

==See also==
{{portal|Baseball|United States|Biography}}
* [[List of athletes who came out of retirement]]
* [[List of Jewish Major League Baseball players]]
{{clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|auto=yes}}
*{{baseballstats|mlb=137002|espn=3979|br=k/kaplega01|fangraphs=1256|brm=kapler001gab|retro=K/Pkaplg001}}
*{{Baseball-reference manager|kaplega01}}
*{{sabrbio|425948f6}}
*[https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=kaplega01 Gabe Kapler] at Baseball Almanac
*Gabe Kapler {{official website|https://kaplifestyle.com}}
*[https://www.kaplerfoundation.org Kapler Foundation]
* {{Twitter}}

{{s-start-collapsible|header={{s-ach|aw}}}}
{{succession box|before = [[Pedro Martinez]]/<br>[[Manny Ramirez]]||title = [[AL Player of the Week]]|years = July 30, 2000|after = [[Tim Salmon]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{The Sporting News Minor League Player of the Year Award}}
{{USA Today Minor League Player of the Year Award}}
{{Southern League MVP}}
{{2004 Boston Red Sox}}
{{Philadelphia Phillies managers}}
{{San Francisco Giants managers}}
{{Miami Marlins general managers}}
{{MLBGenManager}}
{{Major League Baseball on Fox}}
{{NL Managers of the Year}}
{{Sporting News Manager of the Year Award}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kapler, Gabe}}
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