The Phillies have hired former Minnesota Twins general manager Terry Ryan as a special assignment scout.

Philadelphia announced the appointment Wednesday, about 4½ months after Ryan was fired in the middle of his 19th season as GM of the Twins. Ryan spent 31 years with the organization, starting in 1986 as the scouting director. During his time running the baseball operations department, from 1994-2007 and 2012-16, the Twins won four division titles.

Ryan’s first job in the major leagues was as Midwest scouting supervisor for the New York Mets from 1980-85.

Phillies general manager Matt Klentak said in a statement that Ryan’s “work ethic, loyalty and track record as a talent evaluator are simply unparalleled.”