Nationals announce promotions in front office
WASHINGTON -- The Nationals made some front-office moves Thursday, promoting Doug Harris to assistant general manager and vice president of player development, Kris Kline to assistant general manager and vice president of scouting operations, Mark Scialabba to director of player development, Mark Baca to national supervisor, Jeff Zona to special assistant to the general manager and Fred Costello to national crosschecker.
Harris has 24 years of baseball experience and has overseen the development of the Nationals' farm system for the last four seasons. Harris came to Washington in October 2009 after stints with the Indians and Rangers.
Kline begins his fifth season as the head of Washington's amateur scouting efforts. He joined the organization in the fall of 2006 and spent his first three seasons with the Nats as a special assignment scout, then as the western crosschecker. A scout for over 20 years, Kline spent the previous seven seasons with Arizona, earning a World Series ring in 2001. Before joining the D-backs, Kline worked 10 seasons scouting for the Angels after completing his four-year professional playing career in their Minor League system.
Scialabba joined the Nationals in 2006 and has served in his current role as director of Minor League operations since October '09. He will continue to work in conjunction with Harris on all aspects of Washington's player development operation, including contracts, roster management, budgets and player personnel decisions.
Baca started with Washington in 2008, serving as an area scout covering the talent-rich region of Southern California. Baca covered that same region as an area scout for Arizona (2001-07), with whom he earned a World Series ring in 2001. Prior to his stint with Arizona, he worked for Montreal (1995-2000) and Cleveland (1993-95). Baca attended Cal State-Fullerton and was selected by the Angels in the 22nd round of the 1987 First-Year Player Draft.
Zona is in his seventh season with the Nats after joining the amateur scouting staff as the eastern crosschecker in September 2006. He spent the '08 and '09 campaigns as a Major League scout and became the national crosschecker following the '09 season. Zona previously spent 16 years with the Red Sox, earning a World Series ring in '04. Zona attended Virginia Commonwealth University and played three professional seasons with Boston and Atlanta before joining the Red Sox's scouting staff in 1990.
Costello joined the Nationals in December 2010 as an area scout, covering the Northwest region of the United States. Prior to joining Washington, he worked as an area scout for the Dodgers from 2008-10 and the D-backs from 2000-07. Costello was drafted in the fourth round of the 1990 Draft and played 10 professional seasons in three organizations (Astros, Giants, White Sox).