Baltimore Orioles Executive VP and General Manager Mike Elias was voted the MLB executive of the year. All 30 clubs are allowed to vote, and the vote is casted prior to the start of the postseason.
Mike Elias joined the club on November 16, 2018, after spending 7 years with the Houston Astros. Elias was named the Astros director of amateur scouting in 2011 and was promoted to overseeing player development in the minor leagues in 2016. Elias’ most notable prospect that was drafted was Carlos Correa with the #1 overall pick in 2012. Elias was a massive contributor in Houston’s dominance in the mid-2010’s.
The Orioles won 101 games (their most since 2016) and secured their 10th division title under Elias in 2023. The club’s 101 wins are tied for fourth-most in franchise history (along with 1971). The O’s were the only AL team and one of three teams in the league to win 100+ games (Atlanta, Los Angeles Dodgers).
During Elias’ tenure, he drafted a core of superstars such as Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson. Elias also traded for key pieces like Kyle Bradish, Yennier Cano, Danny Coulombe, Ryan O’Hearn and James McCann. Elias bolstered the roster by adding free agents Adam Frazier, Kyle Gibson and Aaron Hicks.
Mike Elias drafted Tyler Wells in the 2020 Rule 5 draft, and Wells was one of the better pitchers on the staff to start 2023. Six players drafted by Elias made their major league debuts in 2023: Colton Cowser, Heston Kjerstad, Joey Ortiz, Jordan Westburg and Grayson Rodriguez. Kjerstad, Rodriguez and Westburg all appeared on the O’s ALDS roster.
Elias finished his 17th season total and his 5th with Baltimore. The Orioles have the third best record in the AL and fifth best in the MLB in the last two seasons (184-140). The O’s retained the top overall farm system in 2023, even though most of their stars in the minors were elevated to the major league club. Baltimore is the first organization to rank No. 1 in five straight MLB Pipeline farm system rankings.
The MLB started giving out the Executive of the Year award after the 2018 season. Billy Beane of the Oakland Athletics won the inaugural award, followed by Erik Neander (TB), Andrew Friedman (LAD), Farhan Zaidi (SF), and Chris Antonetti (CLE).
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