Dbacks Vice Pres. of Scouting Operations Gone

The Arizona Diamondbacks announced that Mike Rizzo, Vice President of Scouting Operations, has accepted the position of Assistant General Manager & Vice President of Baseball Operations with the Washington Nationals.

"This is a bittersweet day for the Diamondbacks organization," said Josh Byrnes, Diamondbacks' Senior Vice President and General Manager. "While we are disappointed that Mike will be leaving, we are equally as thrilled for him to be presented with this career opportunity. His reputation & track record during his last 7 amateur drafts has put him in a desirable situation. We applaud him for his accomplishments & thank him for his efforts that have directly contributed to this franchise being named Topps "Organization of the Year," while developing some of the finest prospects in all of baseball. Mike should feel proud knowing that so many of his draft picks & international signings, such as Brandon Webb, Chad Tracy, Stephen Drew, Carlos Gonzalez, Conor Jackson, Carlos Quentin & Justin Upton, continue to perform at all levels of the game."

Rizzo joined the Diamondbacks in 1998 as the Central Region Supervisor. He was named Director of Scouting in 1999, before being promoted to his latest position prior to the 2006 campaign.

"I would like to thank the entire Diamondbacks organization for allowing me to develop as a baseball executive over the years," said Mike Rizzo. "This is a special franchise that will always be near and dear to me. The personal success that I have achieved while here should be credited to the talented staff of scouts & baseball personnel that worked alongside me. These fans here should be excited about the direction of this team due to the vision of its leadership & a commitment to winning by its ownership group. I believe this franchise is preparing itself to become a long-term winner, & I take pride in knowing that I have been a part of that process."