Who is President of MLB?
Major League Baseball (MLB) is the professional baseball organization that is the oldest of the four major professional sports leagues in North America. MLB consists of 30 teams—29 in the United States and one in Canada. The president of MLB is Rob Manfred, who has held the position since 2015.
Rob Manfred’s Background
Manfred was born in Rome, New York, in 1958 and attended Le Moyne College, where he earned a B.A. in economics and accounting. He then attended Harvard Law School, graduating in 1984 with a J.D. degree.
Manfred began his career in baseball in 1987 with the law firm Morgan, Lewis & Bockius in New York City. He was hired by MLB in 1998 and was named the executive vice president of labor relations in September 2013. In August 2014, Manfred was chosen to succeed Bud Selig as MLB’s Commissioner. Manfred was unanimously elected to become the 10th Commissioner of MLB on January 25, 2015.
Manfred’s Role as Commissioner
As the Commissioner, Manfred’s role is to oversee all aspects of Major League Baseball, from the clubs to the players to the umpires. He is responsible for the development and implementation of policies, regulations and procedures for all of MLB. He is also responsible for upholding the rules of the game and ensuring that the players, teams and umpires abide by them.
Manfred has also been key in promoting MLB internationally. In February 2020, he announced the formation of the MLB China League, a four-team league based in China which will feature some of the top Chinese baseball players.
Manfred’s Other Accomplishments
Manfred has also been instrumental in bringing significant changes to the game. He has worked to speed up the game, introducing a timer between innings and limiting the amount of mound visits by coaches and players. Manfred has also overseen the introduction of instant replay and the adoption of pace-of-play initiatives, such as the use of a pitch clock and the requirement of batters to keep one foot in the batter’s box.
Manfred’s Impact on MLB
Since taking over as Commissioner, Manfred has made a number of significant changes to the sport of baseball. He has worked to increase the pace of play, introduced instant replay, and implemented pace-of-play initiatives. He has also been key in promoting MLB internationally and has worked to make the game more accessible to a younger audience.
Manfred has also been instrumental in increasing the revenue of MLB. He has increased the league’s television rights deals and negotiated new sponsorship agreements. He has also worked to strengthen the relationship between MLB and its players, leading to a new collective bargaining agreement in 2017.
Manfred’s Reception
Manfred has generally been well-received by the baseball community and fans. He has been praised for his work in increasing the pace of play, introducing instant replay, and promoting MLB internationally. He has also been lauded for his ability to handle difficult labor negotiations.
However, Manfred has been criticized for the handling of certain issues, such as the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal and the slow implementation of technology in baseball. Manfred has also been accused of being too lenient with certain players, such as former New York Mets pitcher Matt Harvey.
Manfred’s Future with MLB
Manfred’s current contract with MLB runs through the 2024 season. He has stated that he would like to remain as Commissioner beyond 2024 and has expressed an interest in taking the league into the next decade.
It is likely that Manfred will remain as Commissioner for the foreseeable future. He has shown a commitment to improving the game and has made significant strides in increasing the revenue of the league.
Manfred’s Legacy
Rob Manfred has made a huge impact on the game of baseball since becoming Commissioner in 2015. He has implemented a number of initiatives that have increased the pace of play, introduced instant replay, and made the game more accessible to a younger audience. He has also been key in promoting MLB internationally and has worked to strengthen the relationship between MLB and its players.
Manfred’s legacy will be defined by his ability to handle difficult labor negotiations and his commitment to improving the game. He has been a transformative leader for Major League Baseball and has left an indelible mark on the sport.
Conclusion
Rob Manfred was unanimously elected to become the 10th Commissioner of MLB in 2015, and he has been a transformative leader for the league ever since. He has worked to increase the pace of play, introduced instant replay, and implemented pace-of-play initiatives. He has also been key in promoting MLB internationally and has worked to strengthen the relationship between MLB and its players. Manfred has been a key figure in the development of the sport and will continue to be a driving force in the future of baseball.