Personnel changes are now starting in the minor leagues now that most seasons are over. For the Mahoning Valley Scrappers (short season A; NY-Penn League), Dave Smith is stepping down as GM, to be replaced by assistant GM Jordan Taylor.
Smith has been with the team for eleven seasons after joining the Scrappers in 1999 as the Assistant General Manager. He was promoted to General Manager in the fall of 2003 and has held the position for the past seven seasons. Smith will remain with the team during the offseason in a consulting role to assist with the transition.
“With the season just recently concluding, now was the right time for me to step down,” said Smith. “After eleven great years with the organization, I am ready to pursue and challenge myself with a new opportunity.”
Jordan Taylor will take over the GM duties effective October 1. Taylor has been with the Scrappers organization for the past ten seasons joining the franchise in November of 2000 as a Corporate Sponsorship Sales Representative. He was promoted to Director of Ticket Sales in 2003 and later to Assistant General Manager in 2005.
“I am extremely excited for this opportunity to lead the Scrappers organization,” said Taylor on his promotion. “This has been a goal of mine and I look forward to working with our great staff to ensure a successful transition.”
Taylor will be just the third General Manager in team history after Smith and Andy Milovich, who led the team from 1999-2003. “The team is very fortunate to have someone of Jordan’s abilities to step in and assume the lead role,” Smith added. “I have worked side by side with him for more than 10 years, and he will do a great job as General Manager.”
“Dave did an outstanding job leading the Scrappers for more than 7 seasons,” said Team President Bill Shanahan. “He committed himself to the community both personally and professionally and maintained the organization as the premium entertainment option within the Valley. We have the utmost confidence that Jordan, and his decade worth of experience, will successfully lead the Scrappers franchise moving forward.”
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