Tracking the Brewers' Offseason Front Office Promotions, Additions, Departures

[Jim Goulart]

The Brewers recently announced several internal moves, including "expanded duties for former Brewers players Taylor Green and Carlos Villanueva and promotions for Will Hudgins, Matt Kleine, and Karl Mueller to assistant general manager and Matt Klentak to executive advisor to the general manager."

Image courtesy of Carlos Villanueva

Those higher profile moves are only a fraction of the changes in the front office directory, which the Brewers tend to update monthly or so. We will detail the changes in the directory between the October 27th edition and the current listing of November 8th.

First, some points to be made. We will focus on the baseball side of the directory rather than the business side. So, nothing personal towards those in Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Marketing, and at least ten other departments listed at the link above. Many within these areas received new titles, surely well-earned in the view of Brewers' leadership.

Second, and importantly, when we note departures, remember we don't know the reasons behind those departures. Never assume a termination. Like any corporate environment, retirements happen and associates are leaving for new opportunities, some of which we detail below. Also, regarding any departure, we mustn't assume there won't be a backfill. The directory does not list open positions.

From an on-the-field perspective, while player development staff members are listed within the directory in various roles, keep in mind that managers, coaches, trainers/strength staff, whether on the big league or minor league level, are not. The organization will release those full updated rosters at some point this winter.

You are invited to review the scope of the directory link. While there are certainly highly compensated executives within, it's the sheer volume of names (and their associated salaries) across the full spectrum of the organization that can give a fan an appreciation of the cumulative salaries, benefit plans, etc., associated with maximizing both the player development process and the fan experience. Of course, the fan will spend more time musing on how much the newest utility infielder's salary will be.

With that being said, here are the updates. If a name is not listed below, it simply means they hold the same title as they had a month earlier. Some of these titles are lengthy - in some cases, the title change is very subtle - so apologies in advance if your eyes strain!

BASEBALL OPERATIONS

• Senior Vice President and Assistant General Manager Karl Mueller - Formerly Senior Vice President - Player Personnel
• Senior Vice President and Assistant General Manager Matt Kleine - Formerly Vice President - Baseball Operations
• Senior Vice President and Assistant General Manager Will Hudgins - Formerly Vice President - Baseball Systems and High Performance
• Executive Advisor to the General Manager Matt Klentak - Formerly Special Assistant to the General Manager
• Vice President - Baseball Strategy and Innovation Dan Turkenkopf - Formerly Vice President - Baseball Research and Innovation
• Special Assistant to the General Manager/Baseball Operations/Player Development Carlos Villanueva - Formerly Special Assistant to the General Manager/Player Development
• Director - International Scouting James Armstrong - Formerly Manager - International Scouting and Player Personnel
• Director - Baseball Data Engineering Phil Hauser - Formerly Data Architect
• Manager - Baseball Data Engineering Josh Schaffer - Formerly Senior Data Quality Engineer
• Product Manager - Baseball Systems DJ Michalski - Formerly Senior Developer
• Manager - Scouting Operations Matt Roffe - Formerly Coordinator - Scouting Operations
• Senior Data Engineer Harrison Jacobs - Formerly Data Engineer
• Senior Coordinator - Player Information Ben Harris - Formerly Senior Coordinator - Player Development/Information
• *NEW - Analyst - Baseball Research and Development Austin Leonard
• Software Engineer Daniel Oh - Formerly Developer - Baseball Systems
• Coordinator - Data and Technology Operations Kevin Ottsen - Formerly Coordinator - Data Quality Assurance and Technology Operations
• Coordinator - Technology Operations - Player Development and High Performance Daniel Sarna - Formerly Coordinator - Technology Operations
• Coordinator - Baseball Operations Michael Silber - Formerly Assistant - Baseball Operations
• Coordinator - International Scouting Zorian Schiffman - Formerly Assistant - International Scouting
• Coordinator - Domestic and International Scouting Operations Oscar Garcia - Formerly Coordinator - Scouting

Departures from Baseball Operations:

As noted by Adam McCalvy here, Eduardo Brizuela joined David Stearns and the Mets:

Also, no longer listed on the club's directory are:

• Special Assistant - Baseball Operations/Player Development Quinton McCracken
• Manager - Advance Scouting Brian Powalish
• Senior Analyst - Baseball Research and Development Michael Harper
• Senior Data Engineer Charles Clark
• Assistant - Major League Video and Spanish Translator Carlos Brizuela

Carlos Brizuela, Eduardo's brother, has been well-known to Brewers fans as the often-seen face of clubhouse and dugout interviews. It goes back over seven years, but this Q&A via the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (where Carlos earned an MBA, impressive!) is worthwhile. 

 

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CLUBHOUSE OPERATIONS

• Vice President - Team Travel and Clubhouse Operations Dan Larrea - Formerly Senior Director - Team Travel and Clubhouse Operations
• Director, Equipment Manager - Major and Minor Leagues Jason Shawger - Formerly Equipment Manager - Major and Minor Leagues
• *NEW - Major League Executive Chef Anthony Walton

 

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MEDICAL STAFF

• Vice President - Player Health and Performance Blair Bundy - Formerly Director - Player Health
• Director - Player Health Nick Jensen - Formerly Coordinator - Minor League Medical
• *NEW - Mental Health and Performance Clinician Rose Diaz Vazquez
• Special Assistant Performance Psychology Pedro Alvarez - Formerly Baseball Operations and Player Development Assistant

No longer listed on the club's directory is:

• Assistant Director - Psychological Services Blake Pindyck (now pursuing his doctorate at the University of Denver)

 

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PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

• Director - Latin America Operations Manuel Vargas - Formerly Coordinator - Latin America Operations
• Manager - Education Adela Marquez - Formerly Education Coordinator
• Minor League Field Coordinator and Outfield Instructor Spencer Allen - formerly Minor League Field Coordinator

No longer listed on the club's directory is:

• Coordinator - Baseball Diversity Initiatives Junior Spivey

Spivey and Quinton McCracken (noted above) joined the Brewers in January of 2021 (press release).

 

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HIGH PERFORMANCE

• Director - Player Performance Isaac Salazar - Formerly Director - Strength and Conditioning
• Assistant Director - Performance Science/Athlete Availability Ryan Tibbets - Formerly Assistant Director - Performance Science
• Assistant Director - Movement Solutions Megan Stewart - Formerly Senior Analyst - Performance Science
• Senior Coordinator - Strength and Conditioning Jason Morriss - Formerly Coordinator - Minor League Strength and Conditioning
• *NEW - Assistant Performance Nutrition Rose Donnelly

 

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SCOUTING

• Special Assistant - Scouting and International Player Development Taylor Green - Formerly Assistant Director - Scouting and International Player Development
• National/Regional Scout Brian Bullington - Formerly Professional Scout
• Area Scout Joseph Rivera - Formerly Development Scout
• *NEW - Development Scout Christian Cabrera

No longer listed on the club's directory are:

• Special Assistant - Scouting Chip Lawrence - Lawrence has joined the Detroit Tigers as Special Assistant to Scouting/Global Cross-Checker
• Area Scout Lazaro Llanes - ARTICLE - Miami Dade College Sharks Select Former Brewers and Marlins Scout as New Baseball Coach

Among the current Brewers prospects Llanes had a hand in signing are SS Freddy Zamora ("The Athletic" article, subscription required) and RHP Carlos Rodriguez (another "The Athletic" piece). It should be noted, as Will Sammon did (my goodness, was Will outstanding when the Brewers had an Athletic beat guy), that Llanes had Rodriguez in high school and provided guidance to former Brewers scout Mike Burns, who formally signed Rodriguez out of junior college.

 

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INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING

• Director - International Player Evaluation Luis Perez - Formerly Assistant Director - International Scouting
• Assistant Director - Latin America Scouting and International Player Development Fernando Veracierto - Formerly Latin America Cross Checker
• Assistant Director - Latin America Scouting Gary Peralta - Formerly Supervisor - Dominican Republic
• Coordinator - Central America and Columbia Scouting Teofilo Gutierrez - Formerly Scout - Latin America
• Coordinator - Venezuela Scouting Kenji Galavis - Formerly Latin America Video Scout
• Assistant - Dominican Republic Scouting Jean Carlos Reynoso - Formerly Latin America Video Scout

 

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A final reminder that the complete Brewers Front Office Directory resides within the "Roster" sub-heading of the team's site. 

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[Jim Goulart]

 

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Jim Goulart]

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Also good to see another scout who is a person of color added to the ranks (and yes, as you'll see when you click the Tweet, Dexter has vowed a change of allegiance!

[Jim Goulart]

My goodness, this thread and the focus on promotions and new titles can be seen in a new light after reading this insightful piece:

 

[Joseph Zarr]

On 1/27/2024 at 6:15 AM, Mass Haas said:

My goodness, this thread and the focus on promotions and new titles can be seen in a new light after reading this insightful piece:

 

Yikes. Another sobering look at Manfred's MLB environment. I have to say, personally, having been aware of aspects of what this article speaks to for some time this is why I never once begrudged a Milwaukee Brewer Front Office staff member from seeking employment or opportunity elsewhere. I can only hope the Brewers organization, as a whole, is operating with good practices and noble intentions - yes, even in the world of big business this is possible. 

[Underachiever]

45 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

Yikes. Another sobering look at Manfred's MLB environment. I have to say, personally, having been aware of aspects of what this article speaks to for some time this is why I never once begrudged a Milwaukee Brewer Front Office staff member from seeking employment or opportunity elsewhere. I can only hope the Brewers organization, as a whole, is operating with good practices and noble intentions - yes, even in the world of big business this is possible. 

I think I can guess the answer to this. Given mlb’s unwillingness to improve the living conditions of minor leaguers until they were forced to, I’m guessing the Brewers are similar to other orgs in how they treat their office and scouting  staff. 

[Joseph Zarr]

1 hour ago, Underachiever said:

I think I can guess the answer to this. Given mlb’s unwillingness to improve the living conditions of minor leaguers until they were forced to, I’m guessing the Brewers are similar to other orgs in how they treat their office and scouting  staff. 

I can't earnestly speak to this. It would appear, from afar, however, the Brewers run a good organization and treat their employees quite well. But, I don't have any direct experience with this whatsoever. Again, I'm going to trust we have one of the better run outfits in MLB. 

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Jim Goulart]

Congrats, Maddy Ruffin. Long Beach State and Team Mexico softball.

Newly named Data Tracking Operator.

 

[Jim Goulart]

Also, no longer listed on the club's directory are:

• Special Assistant - Baseball Operations/Player Development Quinton McCracken

Update on McCracken:

He'll manage in the MLB Draft League (Niles. Ohio)

[Sugarrayray]

Does anybody know if Larry Hisle is still with the crew in his community engagement capacity?

[Jim Goulart]

9 hours ago, Sugarrayray said:

Does anybody know if Larry Hisle is still with the crew in his community engagement capacity?

Yes, still listed in the Front Office Directory:

COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Vice President - Community Relations Katina Shaw
Manager - Youth Outreach Larry Hisle
Manager - Community Relations Mya DeVecchis

[Sugarrayray]

8 hours ago, Mass Haas said:

Yes, still listed in the Front Office Directory:

COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Vice President - Community Relations Katina Shaw
Manager - Youth Outreach Larry Hisle
Manager - Community Relations Mya DeVecchis

Thank you!!