White Sox promote pair of scouting department vets
CHICAGO -- Nick Hostetler has been promoted to director of amateur scouting and Doug Laumann to senior advisor to scouting operations, the White Sox announced on Monday.
Hostetler, 37, replaces Laumann, who had served in that capacity since November 2007. Hostetler worked as an area scout with the White Sox (2002-04) and Atlanta Braves (2005-07) and as the White Sox East Coast crosschecker from 2008-11 before being promoted to assistant scouting director in 2012.
Laumann spearheaded the scouting and analysis of the team's top pick in the 2015 Draft, right-handed hurler Carson Fulmer at No. 8, while Hostetler served as the guiding force outside of the first round. A change in titles doesn't necessarily mean a complete change in direction for the '16 Draft.
"There will be some things that are a little bit different. But at the same time, as far as the process of selecting players and the type of player and the philosophy, the organization philosophy is still the same," said Hostetler during a conference call from Los Angeles, where he was scouting Area Code game competition. "It has always been best player available on the board at the time.
"As you guys know with the White Sox, it has been a little more college. I'll never shy away from any sort of type or player, whether it's high school or college, position or pitcher. But I do have a little bit more background with the high school-type players. Those guys always tend to intrigue me a little bit."
Among the players Hostetler has scouted during his second stint with the club are right-hander Daniel Hudson (2008), infielder Gordon Beckham ('08), left-handed staff ace Chris Sale ('10) and infielder Micah Johnson ('12). During the eight-season tenure as director of amateur scouting for Laumann, 58, the White Sox used first-round picks to select Beckham ('08), Sale ('10) and left-hander Carlos Rodon ('14).
This change allows Laumann's expertise to be used on the Major League scouting side but still be frequently involved in the amateur side, continuing to serve as a valued mentor to Hostetler.
"He's more of a father figure to me than even a boss," said Hostetler of Laumann. "He's been a guy that I've always been able to go to with any sort of situation or problem, whether it's business or personal. Doug has such a calming influence."
"[Hostetler's] ability to scout and judge talent are well respected within the game, and Nick has been successful in every scouting role he has experienced during his career," said White Sox general manager Rick Hahn in a quote from the team's news release. "We also are excited to retain Doug's wealth of experience within our scouting department. Doug will continue to be incredibly valuable to all of our scouts as we use his expertise across a variety of scouting needs."