The Nationals hired Desmond McGowan to strengthen their scouting and player development during their rebuild.

The Washington Nationals have hired Desmond McGowan as director of amateur acquisitions, bringing him from the Mets where he led data science efforts focused on the draft. His appointment is part of a broader front office overhaul under new baseball operations head Paul Toboni and manager Dave Martinez. The Nationals, still in a rebuild since 2021, are prioritizing stronger scouting and player development to improve their farm system, which includes prospects like Eli Willits and Jarlin Susana. McGowan’s role is key as the team seeks to fix past struggles with high draft picks like Dylan Crews and Elijah Green. His hiring follows the addition of assistant GM Justin Horwitz, signaling a focus on scouting expertise.