DENVER -- Josh Byrnes’ oversight of the Dodgers’ successful scouting and player development operation over the last 11 years led to his hiring as the new general manager of the Rockies on Wednesday.
Rockies president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta sees Byrnes’ talents -- often overlooked because of the Dodgers’ ability to sign and trade for star players -- as being essential for Colorado's revamp, which comes after seven straight losing seasons.
“The Dodgers have obviously done a tremendous job across a lot of different areas over the last decade, but what gets overlooked is that they haven't had tremendous opportunity in the Draft,” DePodesta said. “They've been so good that they're typically picking at the very end of the Draft, yet you look up and their farm system is elite. That doesn’t just happen.
“That takes a tremendous amount of effort, in terms of scouting and in terms of player development, and having both of those departments sort of clicking on all cylinders. Josh has been instrumental in making that happen.”
The move falls in line with DePodesta’s strategy of pushing for change while respecting the unique challenge of the effects that mile-high altitude has on baseball. Byrnes, 55, has some history with the Rockies, having served as assistant general manager under Dan O’Dowd from October 1999 through the 2002 season.
Byrnes worked with DePodesta in the late 1990s with Cleveland at the start of both of their careers. In his first full season as the Rockies’ assistant GM, Byrnes, at age 29, was the youngest person in that position in the National League. The youngest assistant GM in MLB at the time was DePodesta -- at age 27, while working under Billy Beane with the Athletics.
“I’m thrilled to be returning to the Rockies organization, especially at such an exciting time for the future of the franchise,” Byrnes said in the Rockies’ official announcement. “Working alongside Paul again is an incredible opportunity, and I’m eager to join him and the rest of the group as we work to bring championship caliber baseball to the Rockies.”
Byrnes has much experience elsewhere. He served as assistant GM with the Red Sox from 2003-05, a term that included a World Series championship in '04, and he was GM of the D-backs (October 2005-July 2010) and Padres (October 2011-June 2014).
“Josh and I've known each other now for over 30 years,” said DePodesta, who learned after the two were together in Cleveland that they had played high school ball against each other in the Washington, D.C., area. “I've said this before, I'm sure you'll hear me say it again: I feel like I get smarter every time I talk to him -- that was my first day in Cleveland, and continues all the way up until today.
“I've always been sort of, really, taken by his intelligence, his intense level of detail. He sees things in our game that most of the rest of us just don't see or just don't pay attention to. That’s always fascinated me.”
DePodesta said he and Byrnes will collaborate on all major moves with the Major League roster.
Byrnes’ work with the Dodgers through three World Series titles (2020, '24-25), however, was key to the hiring.
The melding of amateur scouting in terms of the Draft with the international program, development, coaching and advanced information can be seen on a Dodgers club that has homegrown stars while using the farm system for role players and in significant trades.
In addition to success in the Draft, the Dodgers have been mindful to replenish their farm system through trades.
Underlying the success has been a culture of celebrating players who come through the system by constantly acknowledging the scouting, information and coaching that helped players succeed. In the last 10 years, the Dodgers have ranked in the top 10 in 17 of the last 20 combined midseason and postseason rankings by MLB Pipeline.
“Josh and I share a lot of the same values in terms of how we like to conduct ourselves, but also the environments we want to be around,” DePodesta said. “I don't think either of us think we have all the answers -- you know, by any stretch. In fact, we know we don't, but we like to surround ourselves with other really curious people, because we're all interested in trying to find the answers.”