Nationals Fire Farm Director Adam Wogan

By Lacy Lusk
October 17, 2005

Adam Wogan, the farm director since 2002 for a franchise owned by Major League Baseball, was told by Nationals general manager Jim Bowden on Monday morning that his contract would not be renewed.

The change was made less than two weeks after the organization’s planned instructional league fell through in the Dominican Republic, but Bowden said that situation “was not a factor” in the decision.

“We wanted different leadership to run the department here,” Bowden said. “I think for any organization to succeed, you have to have player development and scouting. (Wogan) had a lot of financial constraints and a lot of it was out of his control, but we wanted different leadership.”

Wogan, who began working in the Montreal Expos organization in 1998, was appointed farm director by then-GM Omar Minaya in February 2002. This was the first year he and Bowden worked together.

The farm system, 16th in BA’s talent rankings after the 2002 season, was 29th, 30th and 26th the final three years in Montreal.

Infielder Kory Casto, the system’s Minor League Player of the Year in the first season after the franchise moved to Washington, said of Wogan: “I really got to know him better this year–from dealing with him during the season to seeing him again (at RFK Stadium) when I flew back (from Portland, Ore.) to get the award. I think he did a good job with what he had.”

Casto, preparing to make a move from third base to second base after a fine season in high Class A, is working with the coaching staff at his alma mater, the University of Portland. He was among the approximately 40 players who traveled to the Dominican Republic for an instructional league camp that was scheduled to run until mid-November and include players from the Dominican Summer League. Instead, it lasted from Oct. 2-6 with the players never getting on the field.

At least one player, third baseman Leonard Davis, never made the trip. “I had trouble getting my passport in time to go. The day I got it was the day they told me everyone was coming home.”

The hotel near special assistant to the GM Jose Rijo’s complex remained under construction, according to sources in the organization. The complex offered little in amenities, and the players stayed at a hotel about 25 miles away.

“There was a weight room in the hotel where we stayed, and we just hung out there and waited to hear what was happening,” Casto said. “No one really told us what was going on.”

Though Bowden wanted the group to remain in the Dominican, according to sources, arrangements were made for the players and officials to fly back early. The Nationals will be without an instructional league team for the fifth straight year. Bowden said the franchise instead will reinstate an accelerated program at its spring training complex in Viera, Fla., prior to minor league camp. Last year 37 prospects were invited, but the instructional league was going to take the program’s place this offseason.

Wogan would not comment on Monday’s meeting in Bowden’s office, but regarding the loss of instructional league time he said, “The players, after four years of not having it, really could have used it. It may not sound like a big deal, but that’s another month of development. You can work with an instructor all day.”

Scouting director Dana Brown was not in the Dominican Republic earlier this month, but he did confirm that the “hotel is not finished (near the complex). Players never stayed at that hotel. They were at a different hotel, similar to a Best Western in U.S. standards. Just like any other new building, there are going to be (exposed) wires and things at a new facility. It's not finished yet. We called it off because it's going to take a while. At no time were there any players in that hotel . . . At no time did we compromise (the players') safety.”

Brown added, “I feel for the parents. Some kids were going out of the country for the first time, and they were probably nervous . . . The parents probably talked to the kids, who were worried they were going to be put in that hotel before it was finished.”

Bowden said no other moves had been made within the farm system, and that Wogan’s replacement should not be hired until MLB completes the sale of the team. Eight ownership groups remain in the running. Assistant farm director Nick Manno will likely take over some of Wogan's duties on an unofficial, interim basis.

“If we waited until we had a new owner to let Adam know–whether that’s 30 days, 60 days or 90 days--it would have been difficult for him to find a job,” Bowden said. “He’s a bright, young guy. What I think is very important--and this is for whoever is GM with us, whether it’s me or someone else--is that the new owners make the decision (on who will run the farm system).”

Contributing: Aaron Fitt.