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Today, the Chicago White Sox make it official by hiring Chris Getz as Director of Player Development. Filling in for Nick Capra, who will be replacing Joe McEwing as the third base coach in Chicago, Getz will be taking the knowledge learned while working for the Kansas City Royals to Chicago. While reporting to Rick Hahn, Getz will be working closely with Director of Amateur Scouting, Nick Hostetler, to improve the prospect pipeline.
"I'm really excited about the hire of Chris Getz. Chris is an excellent addition to our front office, and I am really looking forward to working with him adding and building a deep, productive system," said Hostetler.
A career that spanned seven seasons, Getz career numbers were .250/.309/.307 with a 1.7 bWAR. In 2007, Getz played in 107 games for the Sox before traded to the Royals for Mark Teahen. While in Kansas City, Getz played in 332 games for the Royals before signing with the Toronto Blue Jays as a free agent, retiring in May of 2014. After his retirement, Royals GM Dayton Moore offered Getz a role focused on player development.
With only a year and half of experience under his belt, the hiring of Getz was a curious decision from outside the organization. Raising questions of what strengths Getz possess that would make him successful in this role?
"He's a very intelligent baseball guy that was part of a World Championship and mentored by two people that I have high admiration for in Dayton Moore and J.J. Picollo. A very good communicator as well, " said Hostetler.
Working with one of the worst farm systems in baseball, Getz will have his work cut out for him. Even though he fits the mold of ex-Sox player gets a front office job, the hope is his initial experience outside of Chicago will breathe fresh ideas on how to develop better players. Maybe the combination of better drafting from Hostetler and better player development from Getz can provide light at the end of the tunnel for Sox fans wishing for better days.