Attendees look on during the MLB baseball draft at the Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas, Sunday, July 14, 2024. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ front office took a big hit on Friday as it was first reported by Over-Slot Baseball’s Joe Doyle that director of amateur scouting Justin Horowitz is leaving the organization to take a job with the Washington Nationals as an assistant general manager.
Horowitz joined the Pirates two years ago from the Boston Red Sox and oversaw the last two drafts. In 2024, the Pirates took now-top prospect Konnor Griffin with the ninth pick out of high school in Mississippi. This past draft, Pittsburgh selected prep right-hander Seth Hernandez, who is ranked as the organization’s third-best prospect.
Both drafts received strong reviews by evaluators, and the Pirates’ system improved drastically under Horowitz’s leadership. MLB Pipeline ranked the Pirates as having the ninth-best farm system in baseball in August after they were ranked 20th at the same time a year ago.
“I think our farm system is in a stronger position than it was 12 months ago,” general manager Ben Cherington said during the Pirates’ final homestand of the 2025 season.
Horwitz will serve as assistant general manager under president of baseball operations Paul Toboni, who was hired by the Nationals last month. The two worked together in the Red Sox front office from 2015-23.
The Pirates now have big shoes to fill as they search for a new amateur scouting director in what will be a critical front office hire.
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