John Keenan, longtime Dodgers scout, dies.

The Dodgers announced that longtime scout John Keenan died Thursday morning.

Keenan, who left the organization in 1998, was responsible for signing Don Sutton, Bill Russell, Mitch Webster, Mickey Hatcher, Rick Sutcliffe and Davey Lopes among others. He was hired by the Dodgers as a part-time scout in 1962 by then-scouting director Al Campanis. He became a full-time scout in 1963, serving first as an area scout in the Midwest. Keenan spent his final 13 years in the organization as the Midwest Supervisor or National Crosschecker.

Keenan’s maternal grandfather, Bert Wells, was also a Dodger scout from 1940-79. His son, Mike, is also a pro scout.

In 2008, Keenan was inducted into the Greater Midwest Pro Scouts Association Hall of Fame.

“John signed me, and has known me since I was a kid,” Webster said at the time. “He has been a great mentor for me as a scout and as a player. All those hard times as a minor leaguer, you’re looking to stay alive, and John was always there to add encouragement. He was a tremendous asset to the Dodger organization.”

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About J.P. Hoornstra

J.P. Hoornstra covers the Dodgers, Angels and Major League Baseball for the Orange County Register, Los Angeles Daily News, Long Beach Press-Telegram, Torrance Daily Breeze, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star-News, San Bernardino Sun, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Whittier Daily News and Redlands Daily Facts. Before taking the beat in 2012, J.P. covered the NHL for four years. UCLA gave him a degree once upon a time; when he graduated on schedule, he missed getting Arnold Schwarzenegger's autograph on his diploma by five months.