Chris Gwynn looks back as he becomes the director of player development with the Mariners
Chris Gwynn worked with the San Diego Padres for the last dozen years in the scouting department and now he has moved on to the Seattle Mariners, to manage the role of director of player development. While Pedro Grifol has left the charge of the farm system
to coach the Mariners’ Class – A High Desert in the California League, Gwynn has been given a major role to deal with. The news of his appointment came from Safeco Field on Tuesday, November 1.
The former Major League Baseball player will be working with a lot of supporting cast in the Minor League farm system but the former outfielder will be looking for guidance from former scouting director and current general manager, Jack Zduriencik.
While Gwynn now tries to catch up with the club’s farm details, he took the opportunity to talk about his childhood days, when he used to play baseball with his brothers, Charles and Tony. Charles teaches at an elementary school near Los Angeles and Tony
Gwynn is a former player and Hall of Famer for the San Diego Padres.
Tony Gwynn was always on top of his game, even when he was a kid. During his career in the Major Leagues, he hit .338, registering 135 home runs and 1,138 RBIs. Chris recalled the games in the backyard.
"Tons of backyard baseball," Chris remembered. "I wish we'd have filmed it. I'm six years younger than Charles and four years younger than Tony, so I was just trying to get up to speed with them and crying when I couldn't. But I developed pretty quick because
I had to, just to stay above water. We had a lot of fun and we're still very close.
"Me and my brother [Charles] will tell you to this day, we knew Tony was different. We couldn't get him out in the backyard, ever. But, then, nobody in the big leagues could either, as it turned out."
Chris Gwynn may not be a famous Major League Baseball player but his experience on and off the field make him a greater part of the change in the Mariners’ future.
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