ORLANDO, Fla. – Tommy Tanous, who has lengthy background in the Draft plus pro and amateur scouting domestically and internationally, will be the Rockies’ assistant general manager of scouting and player development.
An official announcement came on Wednesday on the final day of the Winter Meetings.
“We’re thrilled to have Tommy join our front office,” said president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta in the club's official press release. “Tommy brings a wealth of knowledge in coaching, amateur scouting, pro scouting, international, and special assignment work from his time in baseball, and I’m looking forward to using his experience and rare ability to connect with people to help build organizational consistency across all levels of our operation.”
From 2023 until Wednesday’s announcement, Tanous served as vice president and special advisor to the president of baseball operations, player evaluation with the Mets, a team he joined in 2011 after serving in various roles, including special assignment scout for pro and amateur talent, scouting director and international scouting.
The hire is part of the efforts of new executive vice president Walker Monfort, DePodesta and general manager Josh Byrnes to beef up the Rockies’ front office – a priority during the Winter Meetings and throughout this offseason.
DePodesta and Tanous worked together with the Mets, when the two collaborated on Drafts that led to the Mets appearing in the 2015 World Series. Before joining the Mets, Tanous served as a national scouting crosschecker (2004-05) and area scouting supervisor (2006-10) with the Blue Jays, and area supervisor with the Rangers (2003) and Brewers (1996-2002).
Hirings thus far have attacked two projects for the Rockies, coming off a club-record seven straight losing seasons, including 43-119 last season.
The pitching operation in the Majors has been remade, with Alon Leichman as pitching coach, Gabe Ribas as assistant pitching coach, Matt Buschmann as bullpen coach and Matt Daniels as the organization’s director of pitching. The idea is efficient and coherent use of advanced information to help individual pitchers and, they hope, address the difficulty of pitching at altitude – a franchise constant. Improved teaching in all areas, not just pitching, is a focus.
Also, DePodesta, Burns and now Tanous come with lengthy histories with the MLB Draft and all aspects of scouting. Assistant GM of scouting Marc Gustafson, who has been in charge of recent Drafts, remains in his role, as does player development director Chris Forbes.
With the many changes the Rockies intend to make, one will not be competing with the gigantic market clubs in free agency. While teaching players better is one goal, finding better players works in concert with that.