Las Vegas, NV — The San Francisco Giants today announced the front office additions of J.P. Ricciardi as Senior Advisor to the President of Baseball Operations, Zack Minasian as Director, Pro Scouting and Michael Holmes as Director, Amateur Scouting.
J.P. Ricciardi, Senior Advisor to the President of Baseball Operations
Ricciardi, 59, was the fourth General Manager in Toronto Blue Jays history after holding the post from November 14, 2001 through the end of the 2009 season. Most recently, Ricciardi spent the past eight seasons as a Special Assistant to General Manager Sandy Alderson in the New York Mets front office after being appointed to the post on November 2, 2010.
The Massachusetts native began his post-baseball playing career as a coach for short-season Oneonta (A) of the New York-Penn League in the Yankees organization from 1982-1984 before working as a coach for rookie-level Helena of the Pioneer League in the Brewers organization in 1985.
Ricciardi began the first of his 16 years in the Oakland Athletics organization in 1986, working as a New England area scout with the Oakland Athletics while also serving as a minor league instructor. He held that role until he became the A’s East Coast Scouting Supervisor following the 1992 season. Ricciardi was named the club’s National Crosschecker in 1994.
He became a Special Assistant to the General Manager for the A’s in 1996, working under two General Managers in Alderson and Billy Beane. In 1999, Ricciardi was appointed the Director of Player Personnel for Oakland where he was responsible for major league scouting, trade evaluation and advising the baseball operations department. He remained in that role until being named the Blue Jays GM in 2001.
Zack Minasian, Director, Pro Scouting
Minasian, 34, had spent the past 14 seasons in the Milwaukee Brewers organization, most recently holding the position of Special Advisor – Scouting. For six years he was the Club’s Director – Professional Scouting and also worked for the Brewers organization as Manager of Minor League Scouting Personnel/Coordinator of Pro Scouting and as Baseball Operations Assistant.
Minasian began his career in Major League Baseball as an 11-year-old, when he began working as an assistant for his father, Zack Sr., who is the longtime clubhouse manager with the Texas Rangers.
Michael Holmes, Director, Amateur Scouting
Holmes, 43, most recently held the title of Assistant Scouting Director for the Oakland Athletics. The former Wake Forest right-handed pitcher and coach played four seasons in the A’s system from 1997 to 2000, then rejoined them as a scout in 2004. He was promoted to East Coast Crosschecker in 2006 and Assistant Scouting Director in 2009.