KANSAS CITY, MO – The Kansas City Royals have made significant additions to their International Scouting department by hiring Johnny DiPuglia as Special Assistant of International Scouting and Fred Guerrero as Coordinator of Player Evaluation.
Rene Francisco, the Royals’ Sr. VP of Major League & International Operations/Assistant GM, expressed enthusiasm about these appointments: “Their wealth of experience and stellar reputations as scouts make them valuable assets to our team.”
DiPuglia brings a wealth of experience from the Washington Nationals, where he oversaw international operations for 15 seasons, recently serving as Vice President & Assistant General Manager of International Operations. A recognized figure in the scouting community, DiPuglia was honored as the Professional Scouts International Scout of the Year in 2019 and inducted into the South Florida Baseball Hall of Fame in 2020. His illustrious career includes stints with the Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants, and St. Louis Cardinals. He has been instrumental in signing notable players such as Juan Soto, José Iglesias, and Xander Bogaerts.
Fred Guerrero moves to the Royals after a successful tenure with the Minnesota Twins, where he was the Director of Latin American Scouting & US Integration since 2014. He started with the Twins as Dominican Scout Supervisor in 2004. Guerrero has been pivotal in the signings of several key players, including Luis Arraez and Miguel Sanó, during his 20 years with the Twins.
The Royals’ decision to bring in DiPuglia and Guerrero indicates a strategic move to strengthen their international scouting capabilities. Their extensive experience and successful track records in identifying and signing international talent are expected to significantly enhance the Royals’ scouting operations and contribute to the team’s future success.
