The Angels announced Monday that they have named Nick Francona coordinator of major league player information and promoted Jeremy Zoll to coordinator of advance scouting.
Francona, 28, the son of Cleveland Indians Manager Terry Francona, was a left-handed pitcher at the University of Pennsylvania, but after graduation he gave up pitching to join the Marine Corps, leading a scout sniper platoon in Afghanistan.
He remains heavily involved in veterans issues through his position on the board of directors of Hugs for Heroes, Inc., a volunteer organization that arranges shipments of gifts and letters to U.S. service personnel overseas.
Zoll, 23, joined the Angels last season as an intern in baseball operations. He had previously worked as a video assistant for the minor league Vancouver Canadians.
He also played college baseball, captaining Haverford College of Pennsylvania in his senior year as a catcher.
Francona and Zoll will work with Rick Eckstein, who was hired earlier this month as the Angels' major league player information coach.
--Kevin Baxter
