Orioles announced Rajsich as scouting director

The Orioles officially announced Monday that Gary Rajsich has been named the organization’s new director of amateur scouting.

“We have added a very good, veteran baseball man with this hire,” executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette said in a press release. “Gary is an excellent judge of talent at all levels.”

Rajsich, 57, began his scouting career with the Boston Red Sox, serving in both the amateur and professional departments from 1994-2006, which is when he first worked under Duquette, who served as Red Sox general manager. In his time with Boston, Rajsich drafted and signed current ace Jon Lester, and he was instrumental in acquiring  Derek Lowe with Jason Varitek from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for pitcher Heathcliff Slocumb on July 31, 1997.

Following his time in Boston, Rajsich joined the Texas Rangers as a professional scout, where he served from 2006-09. In the fall of his final season with Texas, he was hired by the Toronto Blue Jays as professional crosschecker. He will take over the position vacated by Joe Jordan, who accepted a position as the Phillies director of player development earlier this offseason.

Rajsich was drafted by Houston Astros as an 11^th round selection in 1976 out of Arizona State University, and he played four years in the Major Leagues (1982-85). A first baseman and right fielder, he made his big league debut for the New York Mets in 1982, where he also played in 1983, and played for the St. Louis Cardinals (1984) and San Francisco Giants (1985). Rajsich finished his playing career with the Chunichi Dragons in the Japan Central League (1986-88).