De Jon Watson named new director of player development

The Nationals officially named De Jon Watson as their new director of player development this afternoon, promoting one of general manager Mike Rizzo's many lieutenants to the position that oversees the organization's minor league system.

A veteran of 37 years in professional baseball, Watson had been a special assistant to the GM the last five seasons, during which time he was one of Rizzo's top scouts and talent evaluators. Watson now returns to a role he previously held elsewhere: He led the Dodgers player development system from 2007-14, first as an assistant general manager and later as a vice president.

"I am thrilled to move De Jon into this role as the director of player development," Rizzo said in a statement. "He has been an integral part of our success the last five seasons and has a documented track record of success in player development. He has a thorough understanding of our minor league system and has the knowledge and experience to know what it takes to help players reach the major leagues."

Watson, 55, has a lengthy resume in the baseball industry, dating back to five seasons in the late 1980s as a minor league player for the Royals. He began working as a scout for the Marlins in 1991, then moved to the Reds to serve as director of scouting (1998-2000) and a pro scout (2001-03), then spending 2004-07 as Cleveland's director of professional scouting before the Dodgers hired him.

After leaving Los Angeles following the 2014 season, Watson spent two years as the Diamondbacks' senior vice president of baseball operations.

Watson's promotion is among the most notable changes to the Nationals front office so far this winter, as Rizzo attempts to remake his organization as the major league club undergoes a roster rebuild. Watson takes over a job that essentially had been held previously by Bob Boone and Mark Scialabba.

Boone, first hired by Jim Bowden in 2005, departed the club after the season, choosing not to comply with the Nats' COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Scialabba, who began with the Nationals as an intern in 2006 and rose through the organizational ranks, will shift to a new role as assistant GM for player personnel.

Watson faces no small task. The Nationals farm system has been rated among the sport's worst for several years, a product of the graduation of star players like Juan Soto, the trading away of prospects like Lucas Giolito, and an inability to develop recent first-round picks like Carter Kieboom and Seth Romero into regular big leaguers.

Last summer's sell-off of eight veterans for 12 prospects helped, but it was only the beginning of a process that will help determine how soon the Nationals can return to contention again.