BALTIMORE, MD – AUGUST 09: A Houston Astros hat in the dugout before the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 9, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
The Houston Astros are hiring Russ Bove as special assistant to the general manager, according to sources familiar with the situation.
Bove had previously been with the Toronto Blue Jays as special assignment scout, a position he held since 2010.
Bove played a part in drafting many of the Blue Jays’ top prospects during that time, including Bo Bichette, Marcus Stroman and Ian Desmond.
Who is Russ Bove? Astros hire scout responsible for drafting multiple All-Stars
When asked about his personal favorite scouting story in 2017, he told The Athletic:
“My real favourite is Ian Desmond,” he said. “Ian was from Sarasota High School … It had a reputation of spoiled rich kids. So much money was given to players from Sarasota High School and they just couldn’t do it in the minor leagues as a general rule. I had to convince Omar Minaya, who was the GM, and Dana Brown, who’s with (the Blue Jays now), that this guy was different.”
Now, Bove is reunited with Brown, who was named Astros general manager on January 26. Bove also marks the third Blue Jays scout/executive to leave the organization in recent weeks, with Dean Decillis joining the Atlanta Braves as assistant general manager and Blake Crosby joining the Pittsburgh Pirates as special assignment scout, respectively.