Gary LaRocque, 65, is the former scouting director, director of player development, and assistant general manager for the Mets. Most recently, he served as the director of player development for the St. Louis Cardinals.
LaRocque graduated from the University of Hartford, where he was an education major, and lived in Connecticut for some time.
The baseball veteran played professionally for the Milwaukee Brewers after being drafted in the 14th round of the 1975 draft, and then coached high school baseball in East Windsor, Connecticut in the mid-70s. He then become a field manager for the Dodgers in their minor league system, beginning in 1981.
LaRocque has always had an eye for talent, bringing in the likes of David Wright, Trevor Rosenthal, Lance Lynn, Oscar Tavares, Shelby Miller, and Kolten Wong, among others.
He recently received a strong endorsement from long-time MLB manager and now Boston Red Sox executive Tony LaRussa.
Tony even went as far as to say that “there isn’t going to be anyone who is better than [LaRocque]. Whoever the best candidates are, he is right there at least tied with them.”
Although LaRoqcue has no general managerial experience, La Russa says he hoped to bring him into that position when he was interviewing candidates for that job in Arizona but but Gary ultimately pulled his name from contention.
LaRocque’s previous relationship with the Mets organization and the Wilpon’s likely gives him a leg up on the rest of the field.
The Mets are expected to announce the second round of interviewees after the first round concludes, and will make the interviewees available to speak to the press to see how they react to the New York press.
The Talkin’ Mets podcast talked about the possibility of LaRoqcue becoming Mets GM two months ago. Inside STL did a two-part interview with LaRocque a few years ago.
LaRocque is on the list with Kim Ng, Chaim Bloom, Doug Melvin, Mike Chernoff, and De Jon Watson that have already or are expected to interview for the Mets’ GM job.
