The New York Yankees filled their International Scouting Director vacancy with an internal promotion, naming Mario Garza to the role after 16 seasons with the organization.
YES Network’s Jack Curry reported the hire on Tuesday. Garza moves up from his most recent position as Director of Baseball Development, a role he’s held since 2020. The promotion ends a months-long search that began when the Yankees parted ways with Donny Rowland in November.
Garza’s path to the director’s chair started 22 years ago as a 25th-round pick of the Houston Astros in 2003. He spent four seasons in Houston’s minor league system before transitioning into coaching and scouting with the Yankees in 2011.
New York Yankees Hire New International Scouting Director Mario Garza
The Yankees hired Garza as a catching coach for the Tampa Yankees in 2011. He managed the GCL Yankees 2 in 2013 and the Staten Island Yankees in 2014, where his roster included future major leaguers Jordan Montgomery and Jonathan Holder.
The organization promoted Garza to Director of Latin American Operations in 2017 before moving him to Baseball Development in 2020. His experience spans coaching, managing minor league affiliates, and overseeing international operations.
New York Yankees News: Garza Takes Over for Rowland
The Yankees’ decision to promote from within comes after a turbulent period for the international scouting department. The organization declined to renew Rowland’s contract in November following 15 years as director and 23 years total.
Multiple Major League sources cited the Yankees’ “recent poor track record of turning big-money signings into impact major leaguers” as a factor in the decision, according to Kuty’s reporting at the time. The organization has invested heavily in international free agents over the past six years, with limited returns at the major league level.
Jasson Dominguez remains the highest-profile example. The Yankees signed the outfielder for a club-record $5.1 million bonus in 2019, but Dominguez struggled defensively in 2025 and posted a .257/.331/.388 slash line with 10 home runs. He recorded a minus-10 OAA (outs above average), ranking among the majors’ worst defensive outfielders.
The Yankees released shortstop Alexander Vargas in August after signing him for $2.5 million in 2019. Vargas posted a .633 OPS in 42 Double-A games before the organization cut ties. Other signings yet to meet expectations include outfielder Brando Mayea ($4.35 million bonus in 2023), shortstop Roderick Arias ($4 million in 2022), and shortstop Hans Montero ($1.7 million in 2021).
Garza’s Playing Career History
Garza’s playing experience gives him perspective on player development from the ground up. The University of Florida product hit .349 with 18 doubles, 13 home runs, and 66 RBIs in 54 games as a senior in 2003.
Houston selected Garza in the 25th round (749th overall) of the 2003 draft. He led the New York-Penn League with 15 home runs and 65 RBIs while playing for the Tri-City ValleyCats in 2004. Garza earned NYPL All-Star honors at first base that season.
His professional career lasted four seasons in Houston’s system. Garza hit 53 home runs and drove in 221 RBIs across 361 minor league games, posting a .249/.366/.451 slash line. He spent one additional season in the independent Frontier League with the Washington Wild Things in 2007 before transitioning to coaching.
Yankees Promote 16-Year Veteran to Fix Troubled International Scouting Department