The Atlanta Braves received good news on Friday morning when it was announced that President of Baseball Operations Alex Anthopoulos had received the Executive of the Year Award presented by Baseball America.
Anthopoulos came to the Braves organization after a six-year tenure with the Toronto Blue Jays as the team’s president of baseball operations and a brief stint in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization.
The 45-year-old helped transform the Braves into a winning organization again, leading them to an NL East title in 2018.
That run has continued through 2022.
He crafted the Braves 2021 World Series championship team by making key moves at the trade deadline to make up for the losses of Ronald Acuna Jr. and Marcell Ozuna.
On Twitter, one MLB insider summed up just how instrumental Anthopoulos has been in the Braves run of success.
Baseball America has named Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos its MLB Executive of the Year.
In 2022, Anthopoulos traded for Matt Olson, then gave extensions to him, Austin Riley, Michael Harris and Spencer Strider. He also won the NL East — again.
— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) December 2, 2022
How Anthopoulos Built The Braves
2022 was obviously no exception for the Braves’ president of baseball operations.
He made key moves once again, trading for Matt Olson before the beginning of the season.
He also extended his newly acquired first baseman.
Soon after, he dished out new contracts to Austin Riley, Rookie of the Year Michael Harris, and Rookie of the Year runner up Spencer Strider, who emerged as a frontline starter in the Braves rotation.
Atlanta also surpassed a 10.5-game deficit in the National League East division, unseating the New York Mets from first place in the division and capturing their fifth consecutive NL East title.
Anthopoulos certainly earned the honor and continues to push all the right buttons for the Braves, who have become a baseball powerhouse.
