Mike Rizzo is a former Major League Baseball player and current executive who has had a successful career in the sport. He was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1960 and attended the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he played baseball as a catcher.
After college, Rizzo was signed by the California Angels as an undrafted free agent in 1982. He played in the minor leagues for several years before being released by the Angels in 1986. He then played for several independent league teams before retiring as a player in 1991.
After his playing career ended, Rizzo began working as a scout for the Chicago White Sox. He then moved on to the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he served as the director of scouting from 2000 to 2006. During his time with the Diamondbacks, Rizzo helped build the team that won the World Series in 2001.
In 2007, Rizzo was hired by the Washington Nationals as their assistant general manager. He was promoted to general manager in 2009 and has held the position ever since. During his tenure with the Nationals, Rizzo has been responsible for building a team that has become one of the best in baseball.
Under Rizzo's leadership, the Nationals have won four National League East titles and one World Series championship. He has been praised for his ability to identify and acquire talented players, as well as his willingness to make bold moves to improve the team.
Rizzo has also been involved in several controversies during his career. In 2012, he was suspended for one game after an altercation with an umpire. He was also criticized for his handling of the team's bullpen during the 2019 playoffs, which led to the Nationals being eliminated in the wild card game.
Despite these controversies, Rizzo's overall track record as a baseball executive is impressive. He has been recognized as one of the best general managers in the sport and has helped build a team that has brought a World Series championship to Washington, D.C.
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