Dodgers hire Blue Jays’ international scouting director Ismael Cruz

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. signed with the Blue Jays in July of 2015.

The Toronto Blue Jays‘ front office continues to go through changes following their most productive season since 1993.

The club’s special assistant to the general manager and director of Latin American operations Ismael Cruz is set to join the front office of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith has confirmed.

Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports first reported the news.

Cruz, a former minor-league player, had an instrumental role in the Blue Jays’ signing of international free agent Vladimir Guerrero Jr. this past July.

“Since I’ve been doing this, I haven’t seen a kid with that power,” Cruz told Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith. “He has pitch recognition for the age and this kid has been playing ball all his life.

“He has a better bat now than what his father had at that age, and it’s not a swing that’s going to go away. He’s had it for a long time and he’s always hit.”

Prior to joining the Blue Jays, Cruz worked as international scouting director for the New York Mets from 2007-11.

The Blue Jays have already seen previous GM Alex Anthopoulos decide not to return to the club while new president and CEO Mark Shapiro tabbed Tony LaCava to hold down the GM position in the interim.

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