The Padres have hired former All-Star closer Takashi Saito as a front-office intern, providing unique opportunity for a prominent Japanese figure while expanding the club’s reach across the Pacific Ocean.
Saito, 45, will spend one year interning in the Padres’ baseball-operations department, learning about everything from scouting to player development to analytics.
“It’s a win-win,” said Logan White, the Padres’ director of player personnel and senior advisor to General Manager A.J. Preller. “Hopefully he will take what he learns wherever he wants to go and broaden his horizons.
“Even though we know about and love Japan, I think Takashi brings something to San Diego that is above and beyond, helping us understand the culture and building the network.