Dodgers News: Mike Brito Named International Scout Of The Year
While many are awaiting word on trades and free agent signings at the Winter Meetings in San Diego, other baseball matters are also being tended to.
It was announced Monday there weren’t any inductees from the Hall of Fame Golden Era vote, which meant former Dodgers Gil Hodges was denied enshrinement for a second time and Maury Wills’ first appearance on the ballot was unsuccessful.
Whereas Hodges and Wills were snubbed, famed Dodgers scout Mike Brito was named the International Scout of the Year, according to J.P. Hoornstra of the LA Daily News Group
Veteran scout Mike Brito, who helped the Dodgers identify and sign Fernando Valenzuela, Yasiel Puig and prospect Julio Urias, will be honored Wednesday as the International Scout of the Year at the Winter Meetings.
Brito joined the Dodgers as a scout in 1978 and he’s not only become synonymous with great signings, but also his Panama hat. As a catcher who played in the Washington Senators’ Minor League system from 1951-55, Brito was inducted into the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005.
Brito’s most recent impact is felt in the signings of Yasiel Puig and Julio Urias. He was part of a contingent that went to watch Puig in Mexico and he was then alerted to Urais, who now ranks among the Dodgers’ top prospects.
During Spring Training Brito can be seen signing autographs at the Dodgers’ Spring Training facility in Arizona and he was also on hand for select home games last season.
