Rays’ Erik Neander wins MLB Executive of the Year

Erik Neander’s work in building the Tampa Bay Rays into a perennial contender has earned him another honor, as he was named MLB Executive of the Year on Wednesday.

Neander’s vision helped the Rays capture the AL pennant and reach the World Series, where they fell short against the Milwaukee Brewers.

It is hard to ignore the 43-year-old official’s imprint on Tampa Bay’s sustained success. But of course, he will not rest on his laurels, especially since the Rays are still chasing their first title.

According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, Neander tipped his hat to a familiar face when he accepted the award.

“Erik Neander spotting World Series champion president of baseball operations Matt Arnold in the crowd: ‘I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I never wanted to be you more,'” reported Nightengale on X.

Neander, who started as an intern with the Rays in 2007, was also named MLB Executive of the Year in 2019. He was promoted to president of basketball operations in 2021.

He has consistently pressed the right buttons, never afraid to tinker with the roster to ensure that the Rays remain competitive every year. His acquisitions of Cedric Mullins, Gavin Lux, Nick Martinez, Steven Matz, Freddy Peralta, Liam Hicks, and Tyler Wells, among others, pushed the Rays to another level.

“We went from 77 wins to 98, improved by 21 games, largely through a lot of internal development and the right free agents that we brought in. We need to double down on that development,” said Neander in a report from MLB.com’s Adam Berry.

Tampa Bay topped the AL East for the third time in seven years.