Director, Amateur Scouting
Kris Gross enters his 11th season with the Astros organization since joining the club as the team’s West Coast Supervisor in 2012. Since he joined the Astros scouting staff, the club has produced more players (58) via the draft than any other Major League organization.
Promoted to the club’s Director of Amateur Scouting role in 2020, Gross oversees the Astros Domestic Scouting operation. He works heavily on the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, but also spends time assisting in the International and Professional Scouting landscapes.
Prior to his current role, Gross has also served as the club’s West Coast Supervisor (2013-15), National Supervisor (2016-17) and Domestic Scouting Supervisor (2018-19). In those roles, Gross assisted and/or selected many successful early draft picks (C Korey Lee (1st round), SS Jeremy Peña (3rd round), RHP Hunter Brown (5th round) and several later-round picks to eventually make the Astros Major League roster (C Garrett Stubbs (8th), LHP Patrick Sandoval, RHP Brandon Bielak (11th), and Jake Meyers (13th)).
Gross played three seasons in the Cubs minor league system (2003-05), making 70 relief appearances at the rookie level and Class A levels. Following his playing career, he joined the Cardinals front office in 2008 and eventually served as the club’s Upper Midwest Area Supervisor for three seasons (2010-12).
Gross holds a B.A. in Business from the University of New Mexico where he was a four-year varsity letter winner for the Lobos baseball team. A native of Lee’s Summit, MO, Gross currently resides in Houston with his wife Blair, and two children, Landry and Charlie.