Mike Rizzo (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Michael Anthony Rizzo is the General Manager
and Executive Vice President of baseball operations of the Washington Nationals
. He was promoted to this position on October 19, 2010, after having served as Assistant General Manager, and then General Manager.
Rizzo attended Holy Cross High School in River Grove, Illinois
and Saint Xavier University.
Rizzo was drafted by the California Angels
in the 22nd round (553rd overall) in the 1982 Major League Baseball Draft
. He played for the Salem Angels
(Class A Short Season), Peoria Suns (Class A) and Redwood Pioneers
(Class A Advanced) from 1982 to 1984.
After he retired from his playing career, Rizzo became a scout, working for the Chicago White Sox
and Boston Red Sox
. Rizzo joined the Arizona Diamondbacks
when the franchise was created in 1998, and served as the Director of Scouting for the Diamondbacks from 2000 to 2006.
when he was appointed Assistant General Manager
/Vice President
of Baseball Operations by Jim Bowden
on July 24, 2006. This move coincided with the franchise's ownership transfer from Major League Baseball (MLB)
to a Washington, D.C.
-based investment group headed by Ted Lerner
.
Three days after Bowden's sudden resignation on March 1, 2009, Rizzo was promoted on an interim basis by team president Stan Kasten
. He was named the full-time Senior Vice President/General Manager on August 20, 2009. On October 19, 2010 Rizzo got a five year extension and was promoted to executive vice president of baseball operations and general manager.
General manager (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, the general manager of a team typically controls player transactions and bears the primary responsibility on behalf of the ballclub during contract discussions with players....
and Executive Vice President of baseball operations of the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
. He was promoted to this position on October 19, 2010, after having served as Assistant General Manager, and then General Manager.
Rizzo attended Holy Cross High School in River Grove, Illinois
River Grove, Illinois
River Grove is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 10,668 at the 2000 census.-Geography:River Grove is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of ....
and Saint Xavier University.
Rizzo was drafted by the California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
in the 22nd round (553rd overall) in the 1982 Major League Baseball Draft
1982 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1982 Major League Baseball draft.- Other notable players :*Barry Bonds was drafted by the Giants in the 2nd round of the 1982 amateur draft, but did not sign...
. He played for the Salem Angels
Salem Angels
The Salem Angels were a minor league baseball team in the class-A Northwest League from 1982-1987. The team represented the city of Salem, Oregon, and was an affiliate of the California Angels. The team played their home games as the Chemeketa Community College baseball field.-1982 season:The...
(Class A Short Season), Peoria Suns (Class A) and Redwood Pioneers
Redwood Pioneers
The Redwood Pioneers were a minor league baseball of California League. They were part of the California Angels farm system. The Pioneers played in Rohnert Park, California during the early 1980s . The team produced players such as Kirk McCaskill, Mark McLemore and Devon White to name a few...
(Class A Advanced) from 1982 to 1984.
After he retired from his playing career, Rizzo became a scout, working for the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
and Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. Rizzo joined the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
when the franchise was created in 1998, and served as the Director of Scouting for the Diamondbacks from 2000 to 2006.
Washington Nationals
Rizzo joined the Washington NationalsWashington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
when he was appointed Assistant General Manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
/Vice President
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
of Baseball Operations by Jim Bowden
Jim Bowden
-Early life and career:Bowden was born in Boston, MA and raised in Weston, Massachusetts and Boothbay Harbor, ME. He graduated from Rollins College in 1983 with a B.A. degree in Communications and Business Administration. He was the Sports Director at the College radio station as well doing the...
on July 24, 2006. This move coincided with the franchise's ownership transfer from Major League Baseball (MLB)
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
to a Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
-based investment group headed by Ted Lerner
Ted Lerner
Theodore N. "Ted" Lerner is an American real estate developer and managing principal owner of the Washington Nationals baseball team. His family business, Lerner Enterprises, is the largest private landowner in the Washington, D.C. region...
.
Three days after Bowden's sudden resignation on March 1, 2009, Rizzo was promoted on an interim basis by team president Stan Kasten
Stan Kasten
Stan Kasten is the former President of the Washington Nationals and a founding partner of FanDriveMedia. He became president of the Nationals after the ownership group led by Theodore N...
. He was named the full-time Senior Vice President/General Manager on August 20, 2009. On October 19, 2010 Rizzo got a five year extension and was promoted to executive vice president of baseball operations and general manager.