Gil Kim

Gil Kim (born December 20, 1981) is an American baseball executive and coach for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He is their field coordinator and director of player development.

Gil Kim
Toronto Blue Jays – No. 22
Field Coordinator
Born: (1981-12-20) December 20, 1981
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Bats: Both
Throws: Right
Teams

Kim played college baseball at Middlebury College and Vanderbilt University before embarking on a professional baseball career in the Netherlands, China, Australia, Spain, and Venezuela. In 2010, Kim became a scout for the Texas Rangers of MLB in Mexico, and later in the Dominican Republic. He was promoted to their director of international scouting in 2014, before being hired as the director of player development for the Blue Jays in 2016. He became a coach in 2020.

Playing career

Kim attended Pottsville Area High School in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, and played for the school's baseball, soccer, and basketball teams.[1] He played in an international tournament in Puerto Rico during his sophomore year.[2] Kim transferred to Lawrenceville School after his sophomore year, which he repeated. He was named All-State in baseball for three years at Lawrenceville.[1] Kim attended Middlebury College for one year, and played college baseball for the Middlebury Panthers, and then transferred to Vanderbilt University. He played for the Vanderbilt Commodores, receiving 21 at bats in three seasons, recording one single. He graduated from Vanderbilt with a Bachelor of Arts in history in 2006.[3][4]

Kim began his professional baseball career for the Omron Pioneers in a Dutch baseball league.[1] He then played for the Beijing Tigers of the China Baseball League and the Western Districts Bulldogs in the Greater Brisbane League in Australia.[1] In 2008, he played for FC Barcelona's baseball team in Spain, and then joined his manager with the Tiburones de La Guaira of the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League.[3][5]

Executive and coaching career

Kim interned for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball in 2009 for three months before he was hired by the Texas Rangers as an area scout covering Mexico in 2010.[3][5] He and Tony LaCava scouted Roberto Osuna.[5] He also scouted for the Rangers in the Dominican Republic.[3] In 2014, the Rangers promoted Kim to director of international scouting.[6]

In January 2016, the Blue Jays hired Kim to be their first director of player development.[5] In 2020, the Blue Jays promoted Kim to the major league coaching staff, while keeping his role as director of player development.[7] In 2022, the Blue Jays named Kim the field coordinator.[8]

Personal life

Kim's parents Yongcheol and Soonae were born in Korea; he was born in Philadelphia. Kim and his wife married in December 2015.[1]

References
  1. Curley, Chuck (February 16, 2016). "Climbing the ladder: New position with Toronto Blue Jays keeps Pottsville's Kim in the game". Republican and Herald. pp. A15, A16. Retrieved August 31, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. Hudock, Matt (August 3, 1998). "Pottsville player gets taste of international baseball". Pottsville Republican. p. 9. Retrieved August 31, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. Newberg, Jamey (January 15, 2016). "The singular travels of Gil Kim". MLB.com. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  4. Nicholson-Smith, Ben (January 13, 2016). "Blue Jays hire Kim as director of player development". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  5. Lott, John (January 30, 2016). "How Toronto Blue Jays' Gil Kim went from sleeping on a bathroom floor in Venezuela to earning a front-office job". The National Post. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  6. Fraley, Gerry (January 14, 2014). "Texas Rangers promote international scouts Gil Kim, Rafic Saab". Dallasnews.com. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  7. "Gil Kim to join Major League coaching staff". MLB.com. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  8. "Blue Jays announce 2022 Major League coaching staff". MLB.com. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
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