Blue Jays Make Over Their Minor League Operations

TORONTO—Gil Kim arrives to the Blue Jays’ newly-created position of director of player development after seven years with the Rangers in a variety of scouting roles, the past two as director of international scouting.

The 34-year-old Vanderbilt graduate—a switch-hitting second baseman who played professionally in the Netherlands, China, Australia, Spain and Venezuela after going undrafted—sees natural parallels between the two positions.

“It’s definitely a very big responsibility and a huge challenge—one that I welcome,” Kim said. “But at the core, the passion someone has for international scouting should be about that grassroots level of finding and developing talent.

“Player development is all about building from the ground up as well.”

Management of the Blue Jays farm system the past few seasons was handled by director of minor league operations Charlie Wilson and field coordinator Doug Davis while being overseen by assistant general manager Tony LaCava. Wilson and Davis will both remain in their positions, with Kim intending to lean on them heavily.

“I’m trying to learn from them as quickly as possible all the ins and outs of the farm system—the players, processes—and learn what sort of systems have been in place,” Kim said. “This is a minor league system that has had a lot of success.

“On the (2015 playoff) team, there were eight homegrown members, and the development of some key prospects led to trades that helped the major league club as well.

“In the immediate term I’m going to learn from them, see where we’re at and continue to collaborate with the player-development staff, the front office and the other departments in baseball operations, and hit up spring training ready to go.”

JAYS CHATTER

• One Blue Jays prospect Kim knows fairly well from his work in international scouting is outfielder Vladimir Guerrero Jr. “Big power and big contact skills,” Kim said. “He’s a polished hitter, and one thing people might not know is he truly loves the game of baseball. He has a true passion to play.”

• Center fielder Anthony Alford, first baseman Rowdy Tellez, righthander Conner Greene and shortstop Richard Urena headline the list of prospects who received non-roster invitations to big league camp.