NEW YORK -- The Yankees have entrusted their pipeline to a familiar face, announcing Wednesday that they have appointed Mario Garza as the club’s new director of international scouting.
Garza, 44, replaces Donny Rowland, who was not retained when his contract expired in November.
A lengthy search led the organization to remain in-house with Garza, who is entering his 16th season with the club after serving in various player development and coaching roles. He most recently served as the team’s director of baseball development from 2024-25.
Prior to that, Garza spent four seasons as the team’s coordinator of business development. His can-do spirit was evident during the 2021 season, when he was tabbed as an emergency fill-in first-base coach during a Yankees series against the Rays at Tropicana Field.
Garza has also held posts as the Yanks’ director of Latin American operations (2017-19) and the assistant director of international player development (2015-16), plus managerial stops in Short-Season Class A Staten Island (2014) and the GCL Yankees 2 (2013). He also coached with Class A Advanced Tampa (2011-12).
A onetime Minor Leaguer in the Astros' organization, Garza joins new first-base coach Dan Fiorito and assistant hitting coach Jake Hirst as members of the Yankees’ player development team to be promoted this winter.
He will inherit a group that, despite the transition, added fresh talent when the international signing period opened on Jan. 15.
New York reached agreements with Dominican shortstops Germayhoni Beltre and Abrahan Pichardo and a trio of Venezuelan backstops in Kenneth Melendez, Poly Ojeda and Cesar Lopez.
Venezuelan right-handed pitcher Sebastian Rivas and outfielder Sebastian Pinto are also expected to join that group.
The Yanks had $5.44 million in pool money this year, tied for the lowest allotment in the league. They lost $1 million from their allotment for signing left-hander Max Fried as a free agent during the 2024-25 offseason.
Seven members of the Yankees’ Top 30 Prospects list were signed from the international market, including right-handed pitcher Carlos Lagrange (New York's No. 2 prospect and the No. 79 prospect in baseball), who could make his Major League debut this season.