Michael Anthony Rizzo (born December 14, 1960 in Chicago, Illinois) 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.[1]
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Rizzo joined the Washington Nationals when he was appointed Assistant General Manager/Vice President of Baseball Operations by Jim Bowden on July 24, 2006.[2] 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.[3]
Three days after Bowden's sudden resignation on March 1, 2009,[4] Rizzo was promoted on an interim basis by team president Stan Kasten.[5] He was named the full-time Senior Vice President/General Manager on August 20, 2009.[6] On October 19, 2010 Rizzo got a five year extension and was promoted to executive vice president of baseball operations and general manager.[7]
Rizzo married Sheilah Marie Kenny of Peoria, IL on October 22, 1988 in Chicago, IL. They have two children - Michael Anthony, Jr. (b.1990) and Mary Kathleen (dec.).
| Preceded by Jim Bowden |
Washington Nationals General Manager 2009-present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
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