Mario Garza has been named the club’s new director of international scouting, a source confirmed Tuesday, replacing longtime head Donny Rowland after he was let go earlier this offseason.
Garza, 44, is entering his 16th year with the Yankees organization and has plenty of fans inside of it, most recently serving as the director of baseball development while working with minor leaguers.
He has also been the coordinator of baseball development, director of Latin American operations, assistant director of international player development and a manager at Single-A and the Gulf Coast League.
YES Network first reported the hire.
In his new role, Garza will be tasked with getting the Yankees’ international pipeline back on track after it had too often come up empty on many of its high-priced signings.
The organization typically has one of the smallest international signing bonus pools because it regularly goes over the highest luxury tax threshold, and while it has had more success with lower-priced signings, it has not gotten strong enough returns on the biggest chunks of that money spent, especially of late.
After dismissing Rowland following 15 years on the job, the Yankees lost out on one of the top prospects in the current signing class, shortstop Wandy Asigen, who backed out of his agreement and instead signed with the Mets last week.
The Yankees took their time in finding Rowland’s replacement, interviewing a group of candidates that included former Astros international scouting director Oz Ocampo, before hiring from within.
Garza becomes the latest member of the Yankees’ player development system to be promoted this offseason, joining new first base coach Dan Fiorito and assistant hitting coach Jake Hirst.
