Scouts Life (I): Raúl González

First piece in a series of 8 interviews with scouting and talent evaluation professionals.

A few years ago, I met Raul Gonzalez while he was a scout in the International Department of the Atlanta Braves. Today he is the first in a series of 8 pieces on baseball scouting and the details of one of the most underrated jobs in the entire system.

Taking advantage of my position as a baseball reporter, I am constantly asked hundreds of questions about international signings. Many parents, relatives, young talents, or people within the business seek answers to make decisions in the vast world of baseball. The current times, especially in the Cuban market, demand an in-depth knowledge of scouting trends. That’s why this series will help many obtain information that isn’t public and will also allow for more effective decision-making.

Talent evaluation is the cornerstone that supports the structure of an organization. It allows for the selection, development, and promotion of prospects who contribute to the franchise, as well as maintaining a deep farm system of young players who can serve as trade assets for established players, providing short-term improvements.

Therefore, the life of a scout is complicated. It involves an extensive travel schedule and requires advanced logistics to see players at academies in various locations in the shortest time possible. Additionally, the success of their work depends on daily reports, in outdoor fields, under sun and rain, in a sport where a vast part of what is evaluated is intangible.

So much so, an MLB batting champion once confessed to me how the man who would eventually offer him a signing bonus of $40,000 barely watched him showcase his talents as a prospect, while the scouts who followed him for years never believed in his talent.

Returning to our interviewee today, the variability of his roles is impressive. He has worked as a General Manager in the Mexican League, within the Dominican Baseball Federation, and later for MLB organizations. He combines the ability to be bilingual with knowledge of the Latino market and as a professional scout for Independent Leagues. It is in this multiplicity where his most visible skills lie.

González was one of the scouts involved in the verbal agreement process of a talented Cuban outfielder, Diego Tornés, who will sign with the Atlanta Braves on January 15th. His work now belongs to the Yankees, but in the life of a scout, evaluators always leave an impact, even if they are no longer within the system.

Raúl González is 36 years old and was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He graduated as a lawyer, earning his law degree from the Universidad del Caribe in his country. He began his career in the offices of the Tigres del Licey in 2007. A lot has happened since then, but let’s allow Raúl himself to tell us more in this conversation that opens our series 'Scout’s life.

Thank you for taking the time to join us, Raúl, and welcome to our series 'Scout's life.' How did you get into the world of scouting?

I started in 2007 as an intern in the management and operations office of the Tigres del Licey during the 2007-2008 championship. Then I moved to the Estrellas Orientales in 2008 as an operations assistant, where I stayed for 9 years until 2017. I assisted Alfredo Griffin, who was the General Manager at the time and a former first base coach for the Angels. I was always assisting the General Manager, and my work involved recruiting foreign players, preparing for the Rookie Draft, and maintaining constant communication with the players regarding logistics, travel, and salary payments. It wasn’t until 2016 that I entered scouting, but this was my experience before taking that step.

In December 2015, positions opened up in the international scouting department of the New York Yankees in the Dominican Republic, and I was recommended by Miguel Benítez, an international crosschecker. Miguel recommended me for the area scout position, and in January 2016, I was officially hired. That’s when my three-year journey with the Yankees began, covering the eastern part of the country (Boca Chica, Guayacanes, San Pedro de Macorís, all the way to Punta Cana and La Romana).

In 2019, I was transferred to Mexico within the same department, and I spent that year meeting new people in a different geography, but the country wasn’t new to me.

Later, you went to work with the Atlanta Braves. How do you evaluate your time there, and what did you learn?

At the end of 2021, as the MLB regular season was coming to a close, Jonathan Cruz, who is currently the International Scouting Director for the Atlanta Braves, requested permission from the Yankees to interview me for a scouting supervisor position covering the Dominican Republic and Mexico. I joined the Braves after approximately 7 years with the Yankees. It was a year and 4 months with Atlanta—a short period in which several players were signed, but a time of great learning, I can say, as I managed personnel directly. In my role, I had a staff of 5 scouts and a video coordinator; I reported directly to the International Director and had to keep the entire structure organized, ensuring that each scout was covering their areas. These responsibilities helped me mature and grow, and I understand that if you do your job well, you earn the respect of others. It was a period that I consider brief or short because I was later allowed to return to the Yankees in the professional department, where I am currently.

What department are you currently in with the Yankees?

I am currently working in the professional scouting department, known in English as the Pro Scouting Department. I report directly to the Director of Professional Scouting, Matt Daley, and the office. My assignments include full coverage of all Independent Leagues in the United States, the Mexican Baseball League, and scouting objectives at the Rookie levels, such as the Arizona Complex League, Florida Complex League, and the Dominican Summer League. It’s a role that involves working in three countries where travel is constant, and there are different levels of talent and various types of evaluations. A significant part of my position also includes coverage of the Winter Leagues and the Caribbean Leagues.

Now let’s talk about your specialty. What qualities does a player need to sign as a professional these days?