ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—The Tampa Bay Rays are deeply saddened to announce that longtime area supervisor Paul Kirsch passed away yesterday after a lengthy battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He was 65 years old.

Kirsch played seven seasons between independent ball and in the minor leagues before serving managerial stints with Class-A affiliates of the Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals and Florida Marlins. He transitioned to amateur scouting upon joining the Rays in 1995 and scouted the Pacific Northwest through Major League Baseball’s 2021 First-Year Player Draft. His first selection came in 1996, when the Devil Rays participated in its first Amateur Draft and selected third baseman Jared Sandberg in the 16th round out of Capital High School in Olympia, Wash.

Kirsch was the signing scout for 11 major leaguers as area supervisor for the Rays: left-handed pitchers Todd Belitz, Ryan Carpenter, Brandon Mann, Blake Snell, Jeff Ridgway and Zac Rosscup, right-handed pitchers DJ Johnson and Jason Hammel and infielders Ryan Brett, Shawn O’Malley and Sandberg. In 2019, he received the lifetime achievement award from the Pacific Northwest Professional Baseball Scouts Association.

“PK was an original member of our scouting staff who I had the pleasure to work with for the last 26 years. We shared so many memorable times through the years,” said Senior Advisor, Scouting/Baseball Operations R.J. Harrison. “PK was a throwback in the scouting industry. He was highly competitive and passionate about the players he scouted and recommended. He loved nothing better than beating the opposition on a prospect. He was respected and loved by all that had the good fortune to spend time with him. I will miss my friend, but we will keep his memory alive by sharing the stories of the legacy he built in our organization and in the game.”

“Paul was an incredible teammate, competitor and friend. His impact will be felt well beyond the multitude of great players he signed,” said Senior Director, Amateur Scouting Rob Metzler. “We will cherish the memories made and do our best to enjoy the beauty of this great game as PK did on a daily basis.”

Kirsch was diagnosed with ALS in 2018. He passed peacefully with his wife, Emily, at his side.