As reported here last night, the Orioles have hired Gary Rajsich away from the Toronto Blue Jays to serve as their director of amateur scouting. Here's the news release from the club:

The Orioles today announced that GARY RAJSICH (pronounced Ray-sitch) has been named Director of Amateur Scouting.

“We have added a very good, veteran baseball man with this hire,” said Orioles Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations DAN DUQUETTE. “Gary is an excellent judge of talent at all levels.”

Rajsich, 57, began his scouting career with the Boston Red Sox, serving in both the amateur and professional departments from 1994-2006. In his time with Boston, Rajsich drafted and signed LHP JON LESTER and was instrumental in acquiring RHP DEREK LOWE with CA JASON VARITEK from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for RHP HEATHCLIFF SLOCUMB on July 31, 1997.

From Boston, Rajsich joined the Texas Rangers as a professional scout, where he served from 2006-2009. In the fall of 2009, he was hired by the Toronto Blue Jays as professional crosschecker.

Selected and signed by the Houston Astros as an 11th round selection in the 1976 draft out of Arizona State University, Rajsich played four years in the major leagues (1982-85). The first baseman and right fielder made his Major League debut for the New York Mets in 1982, where he also played in 1983, and played for the St. Louis Cardinals (1984) and San Francisco Giants (1985). Rajsich finished his playing career with the Chunichi Dragons in the Japan Central League (1986-88).

Rajsich and his wife, Linda, have been married for 35 years and have two sons, Lou, 28, and Lee, 27.