Report: A.J. Preller is Padres' choice as general manager
The San Diego Padres will hire A.J. Preller as the team's next general manager, Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal tweeted on Tuesday.
Preller was one of four finalists for the position, although it had been reported as recently as Monday that Yankees' assistant GM Billy Eppler was considered the favorite for the position, MLBTradeRumors.com said. Preller served previously as assistant general manager of the Texas Rangers and is a close friend and advisor to Rangers' GM Jon Daniels.
The news came as the team's assistant general manager A.J. Hinch left the team Tuesday morning to pursue other opportunities. San Diego has been without a general manager since June when it fired Josh Byrnes.
The team interviewed one of the finalists, Kim Ng, in July. Had Ng been selected she would have been the first female general manager in Major League Baseball history. Long time WNBA player Becky Hammon on Tuesday became the first women hired full-time to be an assistant coach in the NBA.
- Will Green
