The Nationals have named Casey McKeon as director of player procurement and Jay Robertson as a special assistant to the general manager.
That further adds to the organization’s front office, which had been understaffed after the firing of former GM Jim Bowden last March. Earlier in the month, general manager Mike Rizzo hired respected scout Roy Clark as an assistant GM and vice president of player personnel. Johnny DiPuglia was named director of Latin American operations after a stellar tenure with the Boston Red Sox. And Doug Harris was hired as director of player development with scout Kris Kline earning a promotion to director of scouting when Dana Brown left for a job with the Toronto Blue Jays.
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McKeon was an assistant to Colorado GM Dan O’Dowd for the last seven years. The son of longtime baseball manager and executive Jack McKeon, he has also worked for Cincinnati, Cleveland and San Diego in various scouting capacities, including a stint as the Reds director of scouting.
Robertson spent the previous eight seasons with the Texas Rangers as a special assistant to the general manager. He worked under John Hart (2002-05) and Jon Daniels (2006-09). Previously, Robertson spent 11 seasons with the Cleveland Indians, including a stint as director of scouting. Robertson pitched for five seasons in Toronto’s minor-league system before coaching and scouting stints with Philadelphia and Minnesota. Next up: a field manager for next year. Jim Riggleman, Bobby Valentine, Don Mattingly and Bob Melvin are among the candidates. Rizzo hopes to have a decision made by early next month.
