Chris Gwynn hopes to overcome challenge of understanding Seattle’s farm development
Chris Gwynn may have been an average player in Major League Baseball but he will always be regarded highly as Tony Gwynn’s brother. His brother is the former San Diego Padres Hall of Fame player. Not having as big a career as his brother, Chris Gwynn has
moved on to becoming a director of player development at the Seattle Mariners. His appointment was confirmed by the club at the Safeco Field on Tuesday, November 1.
While Gwynn hit .261 in his Major League career, notching up 17 homers and 118 RBIs, his biggest challenge comes in the form of adapting to his new role and understanding the farm system in Seattle. He may have an office at Safeco Field, but he will most
probably head out to Peoria, Arizona, to oversee the Minor League talent. He will be joining former farm director Pedro Grifol in the area to oversee the player development.
One of Gwynn’s reasons for joining the team has been Seattle’s General Manager (GM) Jack Zduriencik. The GM was a scouting director in the past and Gwynn thinks he can learn a lot from the veteran in the coming years.
The biggest challenge is in getting to know the scouting system and understanding the farm system. Though there is no time constraint at the moment, Gwynn is looking to give the Mariners a better chance in 2012.
"I'll be out seeing our Minor League teams and Spring Training in Arizona," he said. "Whenever Jack tells me he needs me to come into the office, I'll be here. But we have a lot of teams and players, and I plan on moving around and seeing as much as I can
see.
"As far as the talent part of it, I've worked on both sides - amateur and pro scouting - so I've seen a lot of the players in the system. That helps me. But in terms of everything else they have, that's the part you have to figure out."
The new director of the farm system went on to say that his position was not entirely in the unknown but he was glad to have support in assisting him catch up to the situation at the clubhouse.
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