Indians’ Watson hired by Dodgers

De Jon Watson, who grew up in Baldwin Hills and attended Santa Monica High, was hired by the Dodgers on Tuesday to replace Terry Collins as director of player development.

Watson, 40, has been director of professional scouting for the Cleveland Indians the last three years and was the Cincinnati Reds’ scouting director from 1998 to 2000. He was one of four candidates interviewed by Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti, beating out Mike DelPiano, a Boston Red Sox advance scout, John Shoemaker, the Dodgers’ double-A manager, and Chris Haydock, a Dodgers player development assistant.

Collins, credited with shepherding the talented group of current Dodgers prospects through the minor league system the last several years, left to become manager of the Orix Buffaloes in the Japanese Pacific League.

Watson was drafted by the Kansas City Royals out of West L.A. College and played five years in the minors before becoming a Florida Marlins scout in 1991.

“As a California native, former player, and professional scout, De Jon’s breadth of experience will add to the organization’s strength in developing talented players,” Colletti said. “He is strong on the fundamentals, and his ability to evaluate talent has led to a record of solid big league drafts.”

Said Watson: “Growing up in Los Angeles and knowing the history of one of the most storied franchises in all of sports, I’m looking forward to the chance to help the progression of the Dodger organization.”

steve.henson@latimes.com