After the White Sox took home the 2022 Allan H. Selig Award for Philanthropic Excellence, a member of the organization is being recognized for another feat.
International scout Marco Paddy has been selected as one of this year’s award recipients for the “2022 Scouts of the Year” honors. Other scouts being highlighted at Wednesday night’s reception include Jack Bowen, Pirates (East), Steve Williams, Pirates (Midwest), and Eric Kubota, A’s (West).
“In all honesty, for me, it’s been more about opportunities, from the very first opportunity I got from the Atlanta Braves,” Paddy said. “I’m the result of opportunities and taking advantage of those opportunities, making sure that my work is the best possible work I can do, protecting my reputation but also the reputations of those who gave me those opportunities.”
As mentioned, Paddy’s scouting career began with the Braves as one of their area scouts after the team drafted him as a player in 1988. Now 58, the 2022 International Scout of the Year worked on the domestic amateur side, in player development and internationally, previously running Latin American operations for the Braves and Blue Jays. Paddy has just completed his 10th season within the White Sox organization as the assistant to the general manager, International Operations.
In his current role, Paddy directs the Sox Latin American scouting efforts with an emphasis on international signings. During his tenure, the club has signed more than 100 international free agents, which included the early notable signing of 16-year-old Micker Adolfo in 2013. At the time, Adolfo was rated as the No. 2 international prospect behind Eloy Jimenez.
Some of Paddy’s other significant White Sox signings over the years have included the following:
- Oct. 2023 – 1B Jose Abreu (six years, $68 million).
- May 2017 – OF Luis Robert ($26 million bonus).
- Jan. 2021 – OF Yoelqui Cespedes ($2.05 million bonus).
- Feb. 2021 – RHP Norge Vera ($1.5 million bonus)
- Jan. 2022 – OFs Oscar Colas ($2.7 million bonus) and Erick Hernandez ($1 million bonus).
For additional insight on just how significant of a role Paddy’s played when it comes to the international market, we recommend reading this 2019 article written by The Athletic’s James Fegan.
“I’ve told Marco all the time, I don’t know how many times we can say thank you because we seem to do it, and I’ve done it for quite a bit,” (Kenny) Williams said. “He definitely knows that he’s valued and it’s not just him, it’s the people who report to him as well. Because he has his own department, he has his own standards in which he will not be compromised.”
– Kenny Williams, Executive Vice President of the Chicago White Sox
On behalf of the entire Sox On 35th crew, congratulations to Marco Paddy on this great honor!
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Featured Photo: El Nacional