Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred announced Los Angeles Dodgers special assistant Raul Ibañez has been hired as senior vice president of on-field operations, along with longtime executive Michael Hill.
The two will report to executive vice president of baseball operations Morgan Sword and serve in key roles overseeing umpiring, discipline and other on-field issues.
Ibañez specifically will work on issues related to rules, equipment and on-field technology. He will also contribute to MLB’s initiatives in scouting and amateur baseball.
Ibañez has been part of the Dodgers organization since 2016 when he was hired to assist in all aspects of baseball operations, including scouting, player development and working with the club’s players, both at the Major and Minor League levels.
Prior to that Ibañez enjoyed a 19-year career that was primarily spent with the Seattle Mariners but also included time with the Kansas City Royals, Philadelphia Phillies, L.A. Angels and New York Yankees.
In addition to Hill and Ibañez, MLB has named former big leaguer Joe Martinez the new senior director of on-field strategy. He will report to vice president of baseball economics Reed MacPhail and be tasked with coordinating MLB’s management of experimental rule and equipment changes, as well as supporting the competition committee and serving as a liaison to on-field personnel.
Former outfielder Rajai Davis also has been named senior director of on-field operations, joining Nick Hundley and Gregor Blanco in those roles. Davis will assist in a number of areas across the baseball operations department, including playing rule changes, amateur baseball and the mentorship of minority players.
Additionally, former Houston Astros manager Bo Porter has been named a consultant on coaching development. He will work with the baseball operations department in the identification and development of candidates for coaching positions throughout amateur and professional baseball, with a focus on underrepresented groups.
“We are excited that Mike and Raul, two highly respected figures among their peers, will lead many of our game’s most significant Baseball Operations initiatives,” Manfred said in a statement.
“Joe, Rajai and Bo bolster our group of on-field representatives to Clubs, along with Gregor and Nick, and we look forward to their perspectives and contributions to our efforts.”
Ken Griffey Jr. hired as special advisor to Manfred
In addition to the aforementioned names taking on new roles with MLB, Hall of Fame outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. will serve as a special advisor to Manfred.
In his new role, Griffey will consult on a number of issues, including baseball operations and diversifying youth baseball development, as well as serving as an ambassador at youth baseball initiatives and special events.
Manfred has been busy hiring advisors and consultants this offseason, previously bringing in former Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein.
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