Johnny Almaraz has been the head of the Phillies’ amateur scouting department for the past five years. He oversaw that last 5 MLB Entry drafts for the Phillies. Almaraz had stepped down as Amateur Scouting Director and will assume a new role with the club. He will take the role of a special assistant to scouting and player development. The 54-year-old requested to change positions in order to spend more time with his family.
Almaraz’s first-round draft picks are in order, Cornelius Randolph, Mickey Moniak, Adam Haseley, Alec Bohm, and Bryson Stott. While Haseley is the only top pick to make the big club, it is too early to tell about Bohm and Stott. Although Bohm is the Phillies minor league player of the year, he projects to be a Phillie soon. Randolph and Moniak, the overall #1 pick in 2016, are in AA and struggling to move up in their careers. There are those who say the Moniak pick is a flat out bust.
Almaraz was also responsible for drafting Scott Kingery in the second round in the 2015 MLB Entry Draft and top pitching prospect Spencer Howard in the second round of the 2017 draft. So far, Kingery is the best of the bunch, having spent two years in the major leagues.
Klentak’s Statement
“Johnny Almaraz has had an enormously successful career in baseball. He has been instrumental in the signing and development of many quality big league players. We are grateful for the five years that he spent leading our scouting department, and we feel very fortunate that he will continue to have an impact on our scouting and player development efforts in his new role.”
Almaraz was also a scouting director with the Braves. During that time he was able to secure both Ozzie Albas and Ronald Acuna Jr. We will have to wait and see if Almaraz has gotten the Phillies that type of talent.
The Phillies may look outside the organization to replace Almaraz. however, Assistant Director of Amateur Scouting, Greg Schilz, will also be a candidate.
Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
