New Ulm Sports Central - Preserving and Sharing New Ulm Area Sports History

New Ulm's Jeff Schugel today was announced as the new Special Assistant to the General Manager/Major League Scout for the Atlanta major league baseball Braves. A release from Atlanta forwarded by New Ulmite Corey Stolte of Fox Sports also reported longtime Special Assistant to the General Manager Dick Balderson has announced his retirement.

Balderson retires after 16 seasons in the Braves organization, including the last 10 as a Special Assistant to the General Manager/Major League Scout. Balderson originally joined the organization in 1997 as a Major League scout and in July 1999 he was appointed the Director of Player Development, a position he held through the 2003 season.

The 2014 season will mark the 27th year as a scout and 31st season in professional baseball for Schugel. . He will work closely with the baseball operations department and will report to Wren. Schugel most recently spent two seasons as Major League Special Assignment Scout for the Los Angeles Angels, following seven campaigns (2005-11) as an Angels Major League scout.

Prior to his time with the Angels, Schugel worked in various capacities for the Los Angeles Dodgers (2000-04), Colorado Rockies (1993-2000) and Minnesota Twins (1987-91). He earned two World Series rings (1987 & 1991) during his tenure with Minnesota.

“We are excited to hire Jeff Schugel as a special assistant and Major League scout,” Wren said. “Jeff will primarily cover the Major League teams in the western divisions and special assignments. He comes to us with a wealth of experience in both professional and amateur scouting.”

During his five seasons with the Dodgers, Schugel worked as a special assistant to the GM, focusing on international scouting efforts. With Colorado, he served as the Rockies’ Director of Professional & International Scouting (1998-99), and as the Rockies’ National Cross-Checker for four campaigns, from 1995 to 1998. He began his professional scouting career with Minnesota as the Twins’ Florida Scouting Supervisor before moving up as the club’s East Coast Supervisor.

A native of New Ulm, Minn., Schugel and wife his Tammy reside in Highlands Ranch, Colo. Their son A.J. is a pitcher in the Angels system, selected in the 2010 draft out of Central Arizona College.

He has been one of four New Ulm people with ties to present or former major league baseball administration.