TORONTO _ The Los Angeles Angels will hire Matt Swanson as their new amateur scouting director, according to a source who requested anonymity because the move has not yet been made official. In Swanson, Angels General Manager Billy Eppler chose a less experienced but highly regarded option to replace Ric Wilson, who was removed from the job earlier this month.
Swanson, 33, pitched for Cal and was drafted by Pittsburgh in 2005. He spent three seasons pitching in the minors, and then worked in insurance until St. Louis hired him as an area scout in November 2008. After being based in Northern California for five years, he was promoted to his current role as the Cardinals' Midwest cross-checker, in which he supervised the team's scouts in that region.
With St. Louis, Swanson was listed as the signing scout for right-handers Sam Tuivailala and Kyle Barraclough, left-hander Marco Gonzales, second baseman Kolten Wong, infielder Colin Walsh, and outfielders Stephen Piscotty and Greg Garcia, all of whom went on to reach the major leagues.
Swanson becomes one of a select few Angels executives hired by Eppler, who held over most of predecessor Jerry Dipoto's staff. Besides a new analytics department, assistant general manager Steve Martone is the most prominent Eppler hire.
Wilson had held his job since 2010, when he replaced the fired Eddie Bane, who the year before had presided over one of the most successful drafts in recent history.
Wilson is said to still be deliberating on a lesser role in the organization the Angels offered.
