masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe Orioles have made more changes in their scouting department today, including the removal of Dean Albany and Nathan Showalter, according to industry sources. They also are replacing director of baseball operations Tripp Norton, per sources.
Norton was hired from the Tigers organization in March 1998 as assistant director of minor league operations. He moved into his present role in January 2012.
Norton and Brian Graham, who was fired as director of player development, represented the Orioles…

The Orioles have made more changes in their scouting department today, including the removal of Dean Albany and Nathan Showalter, according to industry sources. They also are replacing director of baseball operations Tripp Norton, per sources.

Norton was hired from the Tigers organization in March 1998 as assistant director of minor league operations. He moved into his present role in January 2012.

Norton and Brian Graham, who was fired as director of player development, represented the Orioles at the general manager meetings.

Canden-Yards-Red-August-Sky-Sidebar.jpgAlbany is a graduate of Brooklyn Park High School who has worked in the Orioles scouting department for 20 years. Upon being promoted by former scouting director Joe Jordan to a full-time position and later East Coast cross-checker, Albany filed reports on future Orioles draft picks Matt Wieters and Manny Machado and also signed Old Mill High School pitcher Josh Hader.

Albany was included in the contingent that scouted Cuban outfielders Victor Victor Mesa and Victor Mesa Jr. in Miami. They signed with the Marlins. Albany flew into Birmingham, Ala., on July 31 for an East Coast showcase.

Showalter, the son of former manager Buck Showalter was hired in 2015. He was the co-signing scout on four players from that year’s draft, including right-hander pitcher Gray Fenter, a seventh-round pick who accepted a $1 million bonus and has gone 7-2 with a 1.91 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in 21 games (16 starts) with Single-A Delmarva.

Showalter has been scouting in the mid-Atlantic region and also checked on players in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League this summer.

Executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias has been overseeing the scouting and player development departments. He retained assistant director of amateur scouting Brad Ciolek, who’s held the position since January 2018.

Changes were expected following the June First-Year Player Draft, though the extent was unknown. Elias gradually is going to bring in his own people while moving through the rebuild process.