Photo courtesy Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles made a significant step to bolster their international presence by hiring Koby Perez to lead international scouting.
Perez, who is 40, was named Senior Director of International Scouting. He spent the previous five seasons with the Cleveland Indians and served for the past three years as Cleveland’s Director of Latin American Scouting.
“In Koby Perez, we have found the right person to spearhead the Orioles’ new international presence,” said Orioles Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Elias.
“His experience, connections, and reputation built across a fast-rising career in multiple successful organizations will immediately elevate our capabilities in this critical market. Hiring Koby is a major first step in improving our footing in Latin America. We will continue to augment our operation until the Baltimore Orioles are leaders in recruiting and developing international players.”
The Orioles weren’t active in international scouting until July when Elias’ predecessor, Dan Duquette, announced the team would become aggressive in the Latin American market, which it had long eschewed.
Although the team signed a handful of mid-range prospects, the bigger names, including outfielder Victor Victor Mesa and pitcher Sandy Gaston, signed elsewhere.
The Orioles expect to be aggressive in the international market when the next signing period begins July 3.
Cleveland had 13 scouts in Latin America this past season, the Orioles just two, Joel Bradley, who is no longer with the club, and Calvin Maduro.
Before joining the Indians, Perez was with the Philadelphia Phillies for five years, focusing on Latin American scouting. Among the players he was responsible for signing were infielder Maikel Franco, outfielder Domingo Santana and right-handed pitchers Seranthony Dominguez and Hector Neris.
Perez, who is a native of the Dominican Republic, played 20 games in the Boston Red Sox organization in 2002 and 2003.
He and Elias first worked together in the St. Louis organization, where Perez served as a Northeast area scout from 2006-2008.
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I still don't really understand how we traded for the most slot money but still wound up completely boxed out. Can someone explain that to me, for is there any other explanation that is not:
1. Dan Duquette got bamboozled by the Braves;
2. The international market regards O's cash as confederate;
3. Baltimore is such a culturally undisirable place for an international player to come, that no amount of money lures them?
Some fourth thing?
As you know Mark, I wrote that I thought Duquette was naive in making the Gausman trade and was eager to dump O'Day's salary. Until now, the Orioles had no infrastructure in place for international signings.
Unfortunate series of events, including the fact that the O’s main rivals for the three players were Florida teams, and the perception that the O’s have a dreadful track record lately for developing pitchers. Plus, I think they got outbid and refused to go higher than they had planned. And as Rich points out, too much eschewing in the recent past.
Fareastern, the international scouting history of the Orioles effectively begins today.
Ugh, I Googled "what is needed to sign latin american talent in the mlb?" and most of the results were about MLB exploitation of Latin American players. This article
bleedcubbieblue dot com/2018/10/5/17929974/doj-investigating-mlb-signing-latin-american-amateurs
almost makes it seem smart for the Orioles to have restricted their involvement in Latin America scouting and recruitment in the past (and avoid DOJ investigation and possible indictments). Hope the new Orioles FO will run their Latin America scouting and recruitment operations above board, following all applicable laws and treating potential players with the utmost respect.
jkneps, dealing with the intricacies of the system is one of the reasons the Orioles avoided the international market.
How did the Red Sox,Yankees, Dodgers, and other leading contenders perform in the Latin market?
The biggest problem with the Os in this area is centered around managing and understanding the market. The Os have been weak in exploring what talent is available. These kids will follow the money if the presentation by the club is genuine. You cannot show a genuine effort with one or two scouts. The easy path that the birds have taken is free agency. Chasing free agents takes more money but the long term results never seem to work as promised. Do your homework and hit the pathway for younger cheaper talent.
54, the Orioles have recognized that they could no longer avoid this market.
Can the money we got for Gsusman plus other players be used July 3 in the next international signing
No.
I loved the trades for Manny and Zach that DD pulled off, but I never really understood the Gausman deal. He always seemed like someone whom you would build around, not trade for some questionable talent and Latin American signing $$. Now Rich says that that money is gone and we can no longer spend it. Better hope that Luis Ortiz has gone Atkins this winter because the other prospects seem marginal.
The key word I think in dealing in the International is--aggressive. With only 2 scouts and a ho hum attitude their aggressiveness was rock bottom. I don't think the Baltimore area and vicinity are a deterrent. I have high hopes going forward. Now I think the key word will be---patience.
I’m looking forward to hearing from Perez later today.
I wonder if it will take longer to rebuild (build?) the international scouting program. With only two scouts, little reputation, and no plan under the previous regime it seems like the Orioles have a long road to travel.
Perez reads like the right man for the job, I hope he can bring along some others to build up the system.
Perez has Latin American connections, so I think it shouldn’t take long to show some progress,?Cedar.
Rich: I, for one want to move past our previous regime. Nothing more needs to be said about them that hasn't been said already. With this hiring, we are now "in the Latin American" market. It should give us some instant credibility. It is just another example of why the O's are now headed in the right direction.
Spin, I think we’ve moved past the old regime.