One key reason the Los Angeles Dodgers have had so much success in recent years is that everyone throughout the organization does their job at a high level. Whether it be the players, coaches, front office, Minor League staff members or scouting department.
Scouting in particular doesn’t get a ton of recognition from the outside world, but the Dodgers have arguably the best in the sport as they consistently draft well, which allows them to maintain a top-five farm system despite promoting prospects to the Majors year in and year out.
Unfortunately, the Dodgers lost one of their legendary scouts on Thursday as Lon Joyce has passed away, per Oakland Athletics scout Neil Avent:
The scouting world is hurting today as we mourn the passing of former LA Dodgers scout, Lon Joyce. We are so blessed to have spent many days at the park with him. If we had a Mt. Rushmore for scouts in the Carolinas and GA, he would be on it. A true gentleman. He will be missed.
— Neil Avent (@AventNeil4) December 3, 2020
Joyce had been a scout in the Dodgers organization since 1992 and was responsible for signing a number of Major League players such as Corey Seager, Edwin Jackson, Jonathan Broxton, Grant Holmes and Kyle Farmer, among others.
Along with Ron Cey, he recently represented the Dodgers organization at the 2017 MLB Draft.
Seager was perhaps the biggest name that Joyce signed, and the Dodgers organization will forever be grateful for that as he was recently named the MVP of the National League Championship and World Series as the driving force for the franchise’s first championship since 1988.
Lasorda continuing to recover in hospital
Another Dodgers legend, Tommy Lasorda, was hospitalized last month in another scare for the organization. The most recent update was an encouraging one though as he has been moved from intensive care to the rehab portion of an Orange County hospital.
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