Special assistant to GM/interpreter Oz Ocampo leaving Astros

PHOTOS: Astros players' contract situation heading into 2019-20 offseason Oz Ocampo (middle), one of Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow’s key lieutenants since 2012, is departing the organization, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Chronicle on Thursday. >>>A look at the contract situation for each Houston Astros player heading into the 2019-20 offseason ... less PHOTOS: Astros players' contract situation heading into 2019-20 offseason Oz Ocampo (middle), one of Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow’s key lieutenants since 2012, is departing the organization, a person ... more Image 1 of / 38 Caption Close Special assistant to GM/interpreter Oz Ocampo leaving Astros 1 / 38 Back to Gallery

Oz Ocampo, one of Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow’s key lieutenants since 2012, is departing the organization, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Chronicle on Thursday.

Ocampo led the Astros’ international operations from 2012-17. He was elevated to special assistant to the general manager in Aug. 2017.

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Ocampo declined comment on Thursday.

For the last two seasons, Ocampo was Houston’s major league interpreter, translating interviews for many Latin players he helped the Astros acquire. He accompanied the club on every road trip and assisted the team’s advance scouting, too.

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During his six-year run as the Astros’ director of international operations, Ocampo was key in the scouting and signings of touted Cuban prospects Yuli Gurriel and Cionel Perez. Rookie righty Jose Urquidy signed out of Mexico, too, and now seems destined to enter the Astros' 2020 rotation.

Framber Valdez, Franklin Perez, Jorge Alcala and Gilberto Celestino were also signed during Ocampo’s tenure. Perez was part of the deal to acquire Justin Verlander while Alcala and Celestino were shipped to the Twins in exchange for All-Star setup man Ryan Pressly.

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Both prospects in the Astros’ 2017 deal for Brian McCann — Albert Abreu and Jorge Guzman — were acquired under Ocampo’s international tenure.

On the advice of longtime scout Charlie Gonzalez, Ocampo advocated strongly for Yordan Alvarez on the international market in 2015. The Astros eventually acquired Alvarez from the Dodgers in 2016.

Before joining the Astros in 2012, Ocampo worked with the Cardinals from 2005-09 — coinciding with Luhnow — and had a one-year stint at Major League Baseball from 2011-12.

Ocampo’s departure leaves Kevin Goldstein as the Astros’ only special assistant to the general manager. After Brandon Taubman was fired last week, Luhnow has only one assistant general manager, the recently-promoted Pete Putila.

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