2,076 MLB PLAYERS | 14,476 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Create Account
Sign in Create Account
General  | General  | 8/5/2021

MLB Veterans Hurdle, Wetzel Join PG

Photo: Perfect Game
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Perfect Game has announced that long-time Major League Baseball veterans Clint Hurdle and Terry Wetzel have joined the company in special roles.

Hurdle, a manager in MLB for 17 years, will serve as a Senior Advisor and Ambassador for Perfect Game.



Hurdle was hired as the manager of the Colorado Rockies before the 2002 season, and spent eight years in Colorado with the team. In 2007 under Hurdle's watch, the Rockies made one of the greatest late-season pushes of all time, winning 13 of their final 14 regular season games to force a tiebreaker for the Wild Card spot. Colorado beat San Diego in the tiebreaker, and then went on to sweep the Philadelphia Phillies in the Divisional Series and the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Championship Series to win the National League pennant.

Hurdle was hired as the manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates before the 2011 season, and spent nine years in charge in Pittsburgh. In 2013, Hurdle and the Pirates secured their first playoff berth since 1992, and would again make the playoffs in both 2014 and 2015. In total, Hurdle has compiled 1,269 wins as a MLB manager.

“Perfect Game is state-of-the-art. It’s professionally run," Hurdle said. "45 years ago, I was in that amateur space. My parents were sitting in the same chairs today’s parents are. I’ve got experience in that space and I’ve got experience in the spaces that came after that. I’m excited to share those experiences with players at Perfect Game events who want to eventually play professional baseball. However, I’m most excited about getting to work with Perfect Game Cares. The work Perfect Game does with the underserved kids in the community is truly special. I have a special needs daughter, and I am well aware of the impact people can make on kids who feel other. The Ford family and the entire organization do great things through Perfect Game Cares.”

Wetzel joins Perfect Game after spending over 35 years in Major League Baseball in a number of roles. With Perfect Game, Wetzel will serve as a Senior Advisor to the management staff and will have an impact in a number of areas across the organization.

Most recently, Wetzel served as a Special Assistant to the General Manager with Mike Rizzo and the Washington Nationals, winning a World Series with the team in 2019. Wetzel had significant responsibilities in all areas of baseball operations and played a key role in personnel decisions at the Major League and Minor League levels. Before his time with Washington, Wetzel spent 14 years as a special assignment scout for the Colorado Rockies and 17 years as a scout with the Kansas City Royals.

Wetzel won a World Series with the Royals in 1985, in 1996 was promoted to National Crosschecker, and in 1997 was named Senior Director of Scouting. In 2018, Wetzel was inducted into the Professional Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame.

“I am very honored to be a part of Perfect Game. I have known Jerry Ford and his staff since the beginning of Perfect Game," Wetzel said. "They have continued to grow over the years. No organization has created more opportunities for young players of all abilities.

"Anything Perfect Game is involved with is followed closely by MLB organizations, colleges and agents. The player information Perfect Game provides to MLB organizations is extremely valuable. The Perfect Game events, scouting reports, and rankings are very important to all scouting departments. It's common knowledge in MLB, college baseball and agents that Perfect Game is the undeniable leader in running amateur showcases and tournaments."

Hurdle and Wetzel join Perfect Game well-acquainted, having been in the Colorado organization together for a number of years, including the 2007 run to the World Series.

“Clint Hurdle was Elijah Green back in the day," Wetzel said of Hurdle. "He was a high first round pick, he was on the cover of Sports Illustrated. His experiences and his knowledge of the game are certainly very valuable to all of the Perfect Game players.”

Perfect Game President and Founder Jerry Ford has known both Hurdle and Wetzel for a long time, and said he is excited to have both on board.

"Clint Hurdle has been great for baseball for a long time," Ford said. "It's not just his knowledge, his vast experience or his passion for the game, though he is obviously very strong in those departments. Clint is simply a good man that everyone likes to be around. His many years playing, coaching and managing in the Big Leagues just never seems to be the most important thing to Clint. Probably most important is his love for the game and young kids."

On Wetzel, Ford said Perfect Game wouldn't be what it is today without his help many years ago.

"Terry Wetzel and I go back a long ways," Ford said. "Back when we first started PG in Iowa some 27 years ago, Terry was there scouting our events. I always considered him one of the best scouts in the business and one of the nicest as well. Though he might not know it, Terry was very instrumental in the growth of Perfect Game. It is very exciting to now have him with us."
PG Special Events
Travel, Lodging, Entertainment
PG Partners
Recommended
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2024 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.