Dan Duquette essentially dissolved the Orioles’ professional scouting department Thursday, reassigning six pro scouts to the amateur side, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.
Todd Frohwirth, Jim Howard, James Keller, Ted Lekas, Lee MacPhail IV and Jim Thrift are the six scouts that will be reassigned as amateur scouts. Dave Engle and Bruce Kison will remain major league scouts.
Duquette also said the Orioles will “make greater use of video and statistical analysis in scouting the majors”, according to Rosenthal.
Duquette indicated that the changes will reinforce the amateur scouting department, but some scouts view the reassignments essentially as a demotion, according to Rosenthal.
This major shake up seems to indicate that the Orioles main priority is to continue to bolster their scouting and development side of the organization, and it would seem that Duquette is prepared to take the necessary actions.
