The Washington Nationals hired Devin Pearson, Boston's director of amateur scouting since 2023, as assistant general manager. The move marks the first addition to the front office under new baseball operations chief Josh Bonifay, who left the Red Sox's senior VP role in December to replace Mike Rizzo.
Pearson spent seven seasons in Boston's front office, most recently overseeing the amateur draft operation that selected four top-100 prospects in 2024, including second-rounder Braden Montgomery out of Texas A&M. Before his promotion to scouting director, Pearson worked as a senior analyst and coordinator in Boston's baseball systems group. He'll report directly to Bonifay and sit alongside assistant GM De Jon Watson, who survived the Rizzo-to-Bonifay transition and now shares the title with two distinct portfolios—Watson handles pro scouting and player development, Pearson takes amateur evaluation and draft strategy.
The hire matters because it imports Boston's post-Chaim Bloom scouting infrastructure into a Nationals system that hasn't drafted a position player who made an All-Star team since 2011 (Bryce Harper, first overall). Pearson inherits a farm system ranked 23rd by Baseball America entering 2025, anchored by outfielder James Wood and shortstop Brady House but thin on pitching depth after Washington traded MacKenzie Gore and traded for Jake Irvin. The Nationals hold the sixth overall pick in July's draft, their highest selection since taking Stephen Strasburg first in 2009, and Bonifay has publicly committed to an under-slot strategy on that pick to redirect savings into later rounds—exactly the Boston model Pearson executed last summer when the Red Sox took Montgomery 37th overall despite consensus top-20 grades, then spent the savings on over-slot prep arms in rounds three through ten.
Boston's front office has now lost three senior staffers since Bonifay's departure: Pearson, advance scouting coordinator Matt Hauser (to the Mets), and pro scouting analyst Jared Banner (private equity). Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, who replaced Bloom in October 2023, is expected to promote from within rather than hire externally, according to two league sources who requested anonymity because Boston hasn't announced a succession plan. That internal churn creates opportunity for Pearson's former reports—Boston employed 14 area scouts and six crosscheckers as of last season—who now face a choice between Breslow's rebuild or following Pearson to Washington, where Bonifay has indicated he'll expand the scouting budget by 15-20% over Rizzo's final year.
The timing positions Pearson to shape Washington's draft board with four months until selection day. He'll also inherit relationships with the same Southeast and Texas scouts who delivered Montgomery, Georgia prep shortstop Kellon Lindsey (41st overall, 2024), and Florida high school righty Blake Wehunt (79th overall, 2023). Bonifay and Pearson worked together on Boston's 2023 draft, which yielded seven players currently ranked in Baseball America's Red Sox top 30, including three pitchers taken after the fifth round. Washington hasn't developed a homegrown starting pitcher who logged 150 innings in a season since Joe Ross in 2016.
The Nationals open Grapefruit League play February 22 against the Astros in West Palm Beach. Bonifay is expected to name a new scouting director before staff reports March 1.
The takeaway
Bonifay imports Boston's under-slot draft playbook and the lieutenant who ran it, tilting Washington's rebuild toward pitching depth over marquee bats.
Editorial & Disclosure Notice: This article was written with artificial intelligence from public sources and is published without individual human review. Artificial intelligence and other digital tools are also used for research, analysis, editing, formatting, and production. Errors, omissions, outdated information, or inaccuracies may occur. References to companies, brands, products, services, organizations, or individuals are for informational and editorial purposes and do not imply endorsement, sponsorship, affiliation, partnership, or approval unless expressly stated. All trademarks and other intellectual property remain the property of their respective owners. Opinions, analysis, estimates, and commentary are informational only and should not be construed as financial, investment, legal, tax, medical, procurement, or other professional advice. Information may be corrected, clarified, or updated after publication. Corrections or removal requests: jenny@pops4.com.
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