Van was a super friend during my 22 years with the Pads and thereafter. He was the known as the Donut King as he owned a donut shop prior to his career as a scout. We shared many fun times in spring training and during the season. Our time in the draft room was the best. Miss him always
Thanks for sharing that, Darryl. I recently stumbled across a video he took of then-Braves catching prospect Christian Bethancourt. We equipped scouts with cameras in 2010, and Van took right to it. In the video, Van narrates over it, breaking down some of the physical attributes of the young player. I liked it even back then because Van’s confidence, conviction, and good nature is on display.
For sure Ryan. We were the first club to use cameras for area scouts back in the mid 90’s then we stopped. Resumed after Tes Simmons And Bill Bryk came ovr from Pittsburgh in 1999
Van was a super friend during my 22 years with the Pads and thereafter. He was the known as the Donut King as he owned a donut shop prior to his career as a scout. We shared many fun times in spring training and during the season. Our time in the draft room was the best. Miss him always
Thanks for sharing that, Darryl. I recently stumbled across a video he took of then-Braves catching prospect Christian Bethancourt. We equipped scouts with cameras in 2010, and Van took right to it. In the video, Van narrates over it, breaking down some of the physical attributes of the young player. I liked it even back then because Van’s confidence, conviction, and good nature is on display.
For sure Ryan. We were the first club to use cameras for area scouts back in the mid 90’s then we stopped. Resumed after Tes Simmons And Bill Bryk came ovr from Pittsburgh in 1999
I like being reminded that some “new” ideas weren’t all that new!!
Wat years were U with the Pads
2005-2010
Gottcha. I spent 22 yrs there and
When Theo left for Boston he took me and one other scout with him. Spent 13 yrs with the Sox, we had a good run ovr there