New Director of Player Development Sees Exciting Times Ahead with the Diamondbacks Minor League System
Reno, Nev. – The departure of farm director Josh Barfield left Diamondbacks executive vice president and general manager Mike Hazen with a gaping hole this winter. Barfield had overseen the growth of essentially the entire Diamondbacks National League championship roster, which no doubt played a crucial role in his elevation
Reno, Nev. – The departure of farm director Josh Barfield left Diamondbacks executive vice president and general manager Mike Hazen with a gaping hole this winter. Barfield had overseen the growth of essentially the entire Diamondbacks National League championship roster, which no doubt played a crucial role in his elevation to assistant general manager of the Chicago White Sox.
After four years of immense growth and on-field success, including a 110-loss season and, most recently, an improbable, magical run to the World Series, Barfield's advancement gave Hazen and his leadership team a pivotal challenge.
When hoping to poach executive and developmental talent, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more successful unit than the rival Los Angeles Dodgers. Long known as an organization with deep pockets and one that can develop homegrown talent, the Dodgers boast 25 pennants, seven World Series championships, and 10 of the last 11 NL West titles.
The Diamondbacks' hiring of Shaun Larkin as the club's next farm director shouldn't come as a surprise. The 44-year-old has been a part of winning organizations for nearly two decades as a player, manager, and now Arizona's director of player development. Larkin spent the last eight seasons in various roles for the Dodgers, most recently as the field coordinator starting in 2020.
"Creating a culture of success where our players know when you're in our system we're gonna maximize everything they have out of them," Larkin said when asked what he'll bring from his extensive time with Los Angeles and before that, the Cleveland Guardians.
It's a fascinating juxtaposition. The Diamondbacks have long chased the mighty Dodgers until they pummeled them to the tune of a 3-0 sweep in the 2023 NLDS. Arizona outscored Los Angeles 19-6 in the series, and Larkin admired the Snakes from the other side.
"Youth and supreme athletic ability and just excitement in the style of play," he said when asked about his thoughts on the Diamondbacks before he got his new gig, "You didn't wanna play them; More of a blue-collar, ankle-biter mentality, which you appreciate."
Now tasked with leading one of the best farm systems in the sport, he wants to continue the winning culture that the Diamondbacks established throughout their breakout 2023 season. He says the "intent to win" doesn't limit itself to the major league or Triple-A level.
"I think you create a culture of winning and the expectation and the intent to win in everything you do… whether it's the game that night, whether it's your lift earlier in the morning, no matter what we do across the day, we do it at the best of our ability, and we do it to win," he said.
"I think winning is a part of development. You can't develop a culture of winning in the big leagues if you haven't done it in the minor leagues… so our message is strong: winning matters here at all levels."
The Reno Aces will kick off the 2024 season with a three-game trip to Las Vegas beginning on Friday, March 29th. They will play their home opener on Tuesday, April 2nd, when the Sacramento River Cats, the San Francisco Giants Triple-A affiliate, visit Greater Nevada Field at 2:05 p.m. PDT.
Single-game tickets for the 2024 season are available at RenoAces.com, texting "TIXX" to 21003 or calling (775) 334-7000.
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