The Cincinnati Reds today named Shawn Pender Vice President of Player Development and Eric Lee Senior Director of Player Development.
Pender spent the last 2 seasons as a Special Assistant to the General Manager after joining the Reds in 2008 as their Major League advance scout, a position he held for 8 seasons. His most recent role included evaluation of the organization's minor league system, special assignments and Major League spring training coaching duties.
His professional career began as a player when he signed with the Pirates in 1984 and includes experience in both scouting and player development. Pender was an area scout with the Astros, an East Coast cross checker with both the Indians and Rays and a National cross checker for the Orioles. He also worked as a special assignment scout with the Yankees and managed and coached in the minor leagues.
Pender graduated from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida and is a member of the school's Athletic Hall of Fame.
Lee joined the Reds' baseball operations department in 2014 as an assistant and spent last season as Senior Director of International Operations. In that role, he coordinated the organization's international player development and scouting while overseeing all activities at the club's Dominican Republic Academy in Boca Chica, including the Dominican Summer League affiliate. He has been involved in professional scouting, contract negotiations, salary arbitration and administration of the Major League roster.
The Potomac, Maryland native joined the Reds after working for 2 years as an MLBPA-certified agent at Williams & Connolly LLP in Washington, D.C.. Lee earned a bachelor of arts degree in political science and played baseball at Haverford College, has a law degree from the University of Maryland Law School and was admitted to the Maryland Bar in 2012.
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