MLB Announces Promotions, Hiring of Park

Press Release Major League Baseball

Manfred Elevates Executives in Finance, Legal, Human Resources and Broadcasting; Chris Park Rejoins Commissioner’s Office

Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr. announced that Major League Baseball has promoted executives Kathleen Torres, Mike Mellis, Lara Pitaro Wisch, Steven Gonzalez and Bernadette McDonald, and has hired Chris Park as Senior Vice President, Growth and Strategy.

Torres, who had served as Senior Vice President, has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Finance. As EVP, Torres will work under the guidance of Chief Financial Officer Bob Starkey, who was named to his position in December. Torres joined MLB in 1996.

Mellis had served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel for MLB Advanced Media. He will now be MLB’s Executive Vice President and General Counsel, reporting to Halem. MLB’s legal staff will be consolidated under Mellis, who first joined MLB in 1998. Lara Pitaro Wisch, who joined MLB in 2004, will assume Mellis’ duties with MLB Advanced Media as Senior Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs.

Gonzalez, who had served as Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Labor Relations, will now serve as MLB’s Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Labor & Human Resources. With his expanded duties, Gonzalez will assume oversight for the Human Resources and Recruiting Departments of the Commissioner’s Office, and will continue representing the Commissioner’s Office in legal and labor relations matters involving players, umpires and league employees. Gonzalez, who joined MLB in 2007, will continue to report to Chief Legal Officer Dan Halem.

McDonald, who had served as Vice President for Broadcasting Operations, has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Broadcasting. She will oversee the Broadcasting Department and will report directly to Chief Operating Officer Tony Petitti. Since joining in 1984, McDonald, one of the longest-tenured employees in the Commissioner’s Office, has worked under the direction of six of the 10 Commissioners in Baseball history.

Park returns 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. Park will report to Petitti.

Commissioner Manfred said: “I am delighted to promote Kathleen, Mike, Lara, Steve and Bernadette, all of whom have excelled in their respective areas and have become trusted voices for our Clubs. I join my colleagues at Major League Baseball in congratulating them. I am also glad to welcome Chris Park back to Major League Baseball. Chris is a talented and multifaceted executive who will lend insight to our many new initiatives.”