ORLANDO, Fla. — Logan White is stepping away from his baseball career with mixed emotions of joy and sadness.
“After 40 years of hard work, I felt it was time,” White shared on Wednesday morning, a day after he announced his retirement from scouting and his role as a baseball executive. “I realized I couldn’t provide A.J. and the Padres the level of commitment they deserve. If I’m not at my best, I don’t want to stay on.”
At 64, White expressed his love for the job and noted he remains healthy and mentally sharp. However, he decided to retire primarily to dedicate more time to his younger sister, Lynette, who is battling esophageal cancer.
“It’s serious,” White said. “They’ve given her a year.”
For the past 11 years, White has worked closely with Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller. He announced his decision to step back at the beginning of the winter meetings and made it public while accepting an MLB Scouts of the Year award on Tuesday night.
“I feel blessed,” White remarked. “I have a wonderful wife and family, and they come first. There comes a time in life when you must prioritize family.”
White began his scouting career in 1989 with the Orioles and gained significant recognition while leading the Dodgers’ amateur scouting department. Under his supervision, they drafted stars like Clayton Kershaw and Cody Bellinger. He previously worked with the Padres in the mid-1990s, returned to the Orioles, and then joined the Dodgers in 2001 before coming back to the Padres in October 2014.
“Logan has been integral to every personnel decision we’ve made,” Preller commented on the legendary scout. “His insights have been invaluable, and he has mentored many of us throughout his impressive career.”
