When the Lerner family took ownership of the Nationals in 2006, their first hire was Mike Rizzo as assistant general manager. That turned out to be the initial step in building Washington’s first World Series champion in 95 years.
Rizzo, now the team’s general manager and president of baseball operations, joined a franchise that had the lowest-rated farm system in baseball, played in dilapidated RFK Stadium and was in its first of five straight seasons with at least 89 losses.
Rizzo ascended to GM in 2009 and led Washington to National League East division titles in 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2017.
Those four NL East champions all fell in the best-of-five Division Series, three of them in heartbreaking Game 5s at Nationals Park. But this October, with a blend of veterans and young standouts, Washington made history by winning five elimination games in which it trailed.
Manager Dave Martinez’s second Nationals team showed the same tenacity and commitment that the Chicago native Rizzo is known for, rebounding from a 19-31 start to win the first World Series in franchise history.
For putting together such a club, the 58-year-old Rizzo is this year’s Major League Executive of the Year.
“It really does take a village,” Rizzo said. “So many intertwining people have to be on the same page. Our drills and philosophies are the same from the major leagues down to the Dominican Summer League. Up and down the system, everyone knows what to expect. So whether you're a 19-year-old phenom or a 25-year-old who went step by step through the minors, you can make a smooth transition.”
Bu hikaye Baseball America dergisinin December 2019 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye Baseball America dergisinin December 2019 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Wood Has Towering Upside- Nationals rookie James Wood also stands 6-foot-7 and also has game-changing power.
Aaron Judge and Oneil Cruz are 6-foot7 sluggers who stand out for their power in this year’s MLB Best Tools voting. Wood spent half of this season with Triple-A Rochester before making his MLB debut on July 1. While he was in the International League, he captured managers’ attention. Wood unanimously won Best Power Prospect and also claimed Most Exciting Player in a survey of league skippers. Wood hit .353/.463/.595 with 10 home runs in 52 games for Rochester. His .242 isolated slugging was the best for a player 21 or younger at Triple-A this season.
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