Orioles make staff changes, hire Matt Blood to run minor leagues

The Orioles made a number of staff changes on Monday, hiring Matt Blood as director of player development. Blood comes from the Texas Rangers, where he was the director of baseball innovation. He was hired last November as the Rangers’ director of player development.

Previously, Blood worked with USA Baseball, where he worked for three years as the director of the 18-and-under National Team. He worked with Orioles general manager Mike Elias when he was a scout for the St. Louis Cardinals for seven years.

Blood replaces Brian Graham, who was dismissed last year after Elias was hired. Kent Qualls, who was the interim head of minor league operations this season, will continue as director of minor league operations.

“Matt has an unrivaled network when it comes to identifying up-and-coming coaching talent, and his knowledge of the latest trends in the player development sphere will help to keep us on the forefront of this critical area,” Elias said in a statement.

According to the Orioles, Blood “will spearhead staff recruitment, technology program and player development strategies throughout the minor leagues.”

Qualls “will focus on roster management, facility operations and contract negotiations.”

Longtime Orioles director of team travel Kevin Buck was promoted to director of baseball administration. Buck “will oversee major league team operations, transactions, budgets and rules compliance.”

Mike Snyder, the director of pacific rim operations and baseball development has been named director of pro scouting where “he will be responsible for leading and organizing the evaluation of professional players across all levels.”

Brad Ciolek, who served as the interim scouting director after the departure of Gary Rajsich last year, is now supervisor, domestic scouting operations. He “will continue his duties of managing day-to-day operations of the domestic scouting staff and will coordinate all preparation efforts for the amateur draft.”

Di Zou, who worked in baseball analytics, has been promoted to manager, baseball systems, and Hendrik Herz and Chad Tatum have been promoted to scouting analysts.

“We are pleased to announce these moves as we continue to organize and construct our new front office,” Elias said. “… In giving new opportunities to our staff members, we recognize their ability to help us continue to build the base of young talent in this organization.

“I anticipate many more hires and additions to our baseball operations department as we proceed into the offseason.”

Minor league departure: Keith Bodie, who served as Bowie’s hitting coach and was credited with the Orioles’ acquisition of Anthony Santander in the December 2016 Rule 5 draft, was dismissed after five years in the organization.

Bodie was Bowie’s hitting coach in 2015, 2018 and 2019, and managed Frederick in 2016 and 2017.