Today, it was announced via YES Network personality Jack Curry, that the Yankees had named Mario Garza, previously their Director of Player Development, as their Director of International Scouting.
Garza has been with the Yankees for 16 years, most notably filling a role as a 1B coach in May 2021 when coaches Reggie Willits and Phil Nevin were placed on the COVID-19 list. Garza was also a critical piece in getting former Tampa Tarpons manager Rachel Balkovec named as the first female manager of a professional baseball team in 2022.
Garza fills a significant hole after the much publicized dismissal of Donny Rowland, which led to what many may consider to have been a disappointing IFA signing day last week after losing their two big IFA prospects SS Wandy Asigen, who went to the Mets for $3.8M, along with SS Mairon Se La Rosa, who signed with the Mariners for less money than the Yankees offered ($4.3M), also for $3.8M. It’s possible that Garza had some play with those the Yankees did sign, but that is unclear.
Rowland had mixed success with finding international talent, with the likes of Jasson Domínguez, Miguel Andújar and Luis Severino finding some success at the Major League level, while major IFA signings Roderick Arias, Alexander Vargas, Osiel Rodriguez, Deivi Garcia, among others, not finding similar success. Rowland had previously been in the director role for the previous 15 seasons, but had been with the Yankees since 2007, and was previously with the Yankees from 1995-1999.
Garza has some connections in the hotbed of baseball having previously been the Yankees’ Director of Latin American Operations, and has been in the Yankees academy in Boca Chica, D.R. for the past few weeks. In a related note, some Latin prospects have started arriving to their academy/complex in the Dominican Republic over the weekend, so he may get some of the new signings accommodated in their new digs, and may hit the ground running trying to find new, unsigned talent.
JANUARY 28, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
YANKEES APPOINT MARIO GARZA AS DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING
The New York Yankees today announced that they have appointed Mario Garza as Director of International Scouting.
Garza, 44, enters his 16th season with the Yankees, having served in various Player Development and Coaching roles within the organization.
He most recently served as the Director of Baseball Development for two seasons from 2024-25. Prior to that, Garza spent four seasons as the Coordinator of Baseball Development from 2020-23. For three seasons from 2017-19, he served as the Director of Latin American Operations and spent two seasons from 2015-16 as the Assistant Director of International Player Development.
Prior to his roles in Player Development, Garza served as the Manager for short-season Single-A Staten Island in 2014. He made his managerial debut in 2013 with the GCL Yankees 2, leading the club to a first-place finish in the Northeast Division with a 36-24 (.600) record. Garza began his Yankees tenure as a Coach with Single-A Tampa from 2011-12.
Born in Shreveport, La., Garza graduated from Melbourne Central Catholic H.S. (Fla.) in 1999, where he was a two-time All-State and four-time All-Space Coast Conference selection. He also represented the United States at the 1997 World Youth Championship. Prior to joining the Yankees organization, Garza served as a hitters and catchers coach at his alma mater.
He played collegiately at Stanford University for two seasons from 2000-01 before transferring to the University of Florida, where he played two seasons from 2002-03. Garza hit 13 home runs and recorded a team-high 66 RBI as a senior with the Gators.
Garza was selected by the Houston Astros in the 25th round of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft. He played four seasons in Houston’s minor league system from 2003-06, batting .253 with 41HR in 285 games. Garza would conclude his professional playing career with the Washington Wildthings of the Independent Frontier League in 2007.
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