BALTIMORE — Marco Paddy, the longtime head of the White Sox’ international operations, is leaving the organization as general manager Chris Getz looks to shake up a pipeline that hasn’t produced much in recent years.
Paddy, the 2022 International Scout of the Year, was in his 12th season as special assistant to the general manager, international operations. He directed the Sox’ Latin American efforts with an emphasis on international signings.
“We’ve decided to go a different direction with a restructuring of our international department,” said Getz, the Sox’ former farm director. “We thank Marco for his work and wish him well in the future.”
During Paddy’s tenure, the Sox signed more than 150 international free agents, including Luis Robert Jr., Jose Abreu and Fernando Tatis Jr. — who was traded away before he became a star. But recent international signing classes have not been as fruitful. Infielder Eduardo Herrera, who became the highest rated non-Cuban international signee in franchise history in January, struggled in the Dominican Summer League. And expensive signees Oscar Colas, Yoelqui Cespedes, Micker Adolfo, Norge Vera and Yolbert Sanchez have been slow to develop.
The Sox are looking to improve their operation in the Dominican Republic.
Bryan Ramos recalled; Baldwin to IL
Forty minutes before the game Wednesday, third baseman Bryan Ramos was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte, and infielder Brooks Baldwin was put on the injured list with a sprained right wrist.
Ramos arrived on a hot streak, having hit safely in his last 15 games with Charlotte with three home runs during that stretch.
He is batting .242/.320/.387 with 10 homers, 18 doubles and 44 RBI over 88 games between Double-A Birmingham and Charlotte.
Ramos was 9-for-46 in 15 games over two stints with the Sox. Baldwin, who had been nursing the injury, entered the Sox’ 9-0 loss to the Orioles on Tuesday when third baseman Miguel Vargas left with a cut on his eye after crashing into left fielder Andrew Benintendi.
Baldwin, whose wrist was still wrapped Wednesday, is batting .211 with two homers in 33 games.
No lingering issues for Vargas
Vargas was not in the lineup Wednesday.
“He’s doing good, I think,” interim manager Grady Sizemore said. “He’s got a little cut on that eye, so we’ll give him today and tomorrow [the Sox don’t play Thursday] off, and we’ll see kind of how he’s feeling after that. No lingering issues or vision issues. He took a pretty good shot.’’
Robert’s confidence takes a hit
Robert entered the game batting .216/.271/.390 and was without a homer in his previous 15 games. The 2023 All-Star was 13-for-52 (.250) in his previous 13 as he struggles with pitch selection and searches to find his timing, hitting coach Marcus Thames said.
“Right now, he’s just expanding [the strike zone],” Thames said. “And there is some confidence lacking. Just have to let him know how freaking good of a player he is and get him to trust himself, swing at good pitches and finish strong.”
Those who read Robert’s body language as being indifferent couldn’t be more wrong, Thames said. What they’re seeing is a confidence issue.
“No, no, no, no, no,” Thames said. “He cares. He just got out of the cage right now. He’s working his [butt] off. He really cares.
“That’s confidence. You lose your confidence, you can see that.”
Robert looked better Wednesday, hitting two doubles and making a catch near the top of the wall, but he exited after hitting into a double play in the sixth inning. He appeared to be laboring slightly leaving the batter’s box but stayed in the dugout and chatted at length with Sizemore. He had tightness in his right hamstring, but it did not appear serious.
Cannon’s strong start and homers by Lopez, Fletcher and Vaughn are the keys to their 8-1 victory.
The infielder’s struggles “are on us,” interim bench coach Doug Sisson says.
Nick Nastrini walked six, and a collision in left cost him three runs in the Orioles’ 9-0 victory.
Toussaint, a right-hander, has a 7.43 ERA.