Press Release Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball Chief Operating Officer Tony Petitti announced the expansion of the duties of Chris Park, who will lead the day-to-day business of MLB International and will now serve as Senior Vice President of Growth, Strategy & International. In addition, Petitti announced that Jim Small has been promoted to Vice President, Asia Pacific, expanding his role in the region.
Park will direct MLB’s strategy for continuing the sport’s global growth. He will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of Baseball’s international business initiatives, including MLB’s global events, television, sponsorship, licensing, new market development and grassroots development in the sport’s non-traditional areas. He also will play a key role in the World Baseball Classic, the global tournament jointly operated by MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association.
Earlier this year Park returned to Major League Baseball, where he previously worked as Vice President, Labor Economics & Deputy General Counsel. The Harvard product was honored with a Forty Under 40 Award from the SportsBusiness Journal/Daily in 2012.
Petitti said: “We are pleased that Chris Park will take on an expanded role and will focus on maintaining the game’s international growth. We believe that Chris, Jim and their colleagues in MLB International will establish and implement a comprehensive long-term strategy, strengthening connections where baseball is engrained in the culture and creating new fans and opportunities where the game is developing.”