Washington Nationals news & notes: Kris Kline in new role + more front office talk…

Chris Klein’s new role:

Chris Klein joined the Nationals in 2006, was named D.C.’s director of scouting in 2009, and was promoted to assistant GM and vice president of scouting operations in 2013, but toward the end of the 2023 campaign. Klein was promoted to a new role as special scout. Assistant to GM Mike Rizzo.

Rizzo signed a multi-year contract extension in Washington a few days later. Washington Post reporters Barry Svruga and Andrew Golden We reported on the changes in Mr. Klein.

As WaPost reporters noted in their report, Klein’s move comes “amid a significant shakeup in the Nationals’ scouting department, including the club’s international scouting director Johnny DiPuglia.” [resigning from his role]” Immediately afterwards, “…twelve scouts were told.” they will not renew the contract For next season. ”

DC’s front office, Rizzo & Co., has made major changes in scouting and player development, promoting from within and adding new names to the team. But what does that mean for Klein going forward? And what about the 12 scouts whose contracts were not renewed? Will they all end up being replaced? Have you reduced the size of your reconnaissance staff?

“Number-wise, I think we’ve filled almost every position that we let go,” Rizzo said of personnel changes throughout the organization during winter meetings.

“We’ve revamped…members are going to have different roles. We’re going to accomplish our goals in different ways. Scouts are going to scout. They might be amateur scouts. It could be a professional scout, it could be a pre-scout, it could be an international scout. All of our scouts have a diverse background in evaluation and we intend to put that to good use. ”

Klein in particular will do things differently, he said.

“[It’s going to be a] It’s a hybrid,” Rizzo said of Klein’s new role. “Chris is a special assistant to the GM and is often responsible for pro scouting. He’s going to do some of that. He’s going to do international scouting and amateur scouting. [Special Assistant to the GM] Jay Robertson [Director of Player Procurement] Casey McKeon and those guys. All of the GM’s special assistants have scouted managers at some organization in the past, so they have amateur draft experience and, of course, professional and international experience. ”

Lead:

Head coach Mike Rizzo’s Nationals, with a relatively young and unproven squad, are looking for the next generation of leaders to thrive on the field, in the clubhouse, in the capital’s community and as GM, especially in their current makeup. There is. Baseball Ops’ president told reporters at last month’s winter meetings that it’s not necessarily just bringing in a few veterans to fill leadership roles, which helps, but the club’s He said it is also important for leaders to emerge with maturity and growth. Experience playing at the Major League level.

Photo by G. Fiume/Getty Images

“We want our young players to become leaders themselves,” Rizzo explained.

“You saw that when Juan Soto was with us. [Soto went] From a young rookie to a guy trying to become one of the leaders of the club. I think it’s important for young players to feel comfortable being leaders if that’s what they want to do, but I also believe it has to be a blend of veteran leadership and young players taking on leadership roles. There is. ”