Minor League Baseball adds Bill Smith to staff

Courtesy of MiLB.com

PETERSBURG, Fla. — Minor League Baseball today announced that longtime Major League Baseball executive Bill Smith has joined its staff as Assistant to the President & CEO, Pat O’Conner.

Smith, who spent the last 31 years in the Minnesota Twins organization, will focus on facilities, scheduling and Minor League Baseball’s international leagues, and will work closely with Vice President of Baseball and Business Operations, Tim Brunswick on various projects.

“I could not be happier than to have Bill Smith join what is already a solid staff,” said Minor League Baseball President & CEO Pat O’Conner. “His wealth of experience in all aspects of Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball will be helpful as we continue to grow our operations and improve the teams’ ability to serve our fans and partners at Major League Baseball. Bill is respected throughout the industry and his abilities are unquestioned.”

“Joining Minor League Baseball is a great honor, and I look forward to this new chapter in my baseball career, and, in particular, to contributing to the continued success of this terrific organization,” said Smith. “The bonds between big league clubs and their affiliates, and between Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball have never been stronger, and the leagues and their facilities have improved dramatically over recent decades. We will continue to enhance these vital ties and to expand the business relationships that make the game better for players, coaches, fans and our MLB partners.”

Smith became the fifth General Manager in Twins history on September 13, 2007, and under his leadership, the club won the American League Central Division in 2009 and 2010 and lost in a one game tiebreaker to decide the division winner in 2008.

Smith played a significant role in shaping the design, construction and successful 2010 opening of Target Field and was the Twins’ liaison during the construction of their spring training home in Fort Myers, Florida, from 1989-1991.

Before being named general manager in 2007, Smith served the previous 13 seasons as Vice President, Assistant General Manager, where he shared responsibilities for negotiating contracts, assisting with the day-to-day operations of the Major League department and the Twins’ academies in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic. Smith served on Minor League Baseball’s Board of Trustees and served on a committee appointed by then-Commissioner Bud Selig to examine Major League Baseball’s operations in the Dominican Republic.

Smith was one of the first participants in Major League Baseball’s Executive Development Program in 1980 and served as General Manager of the Appleton Foxes, the Chicago White Sox’ Class-A affiliate for three seasons (1983-85). He left the Foxes to join the Twins organization in March of 1986 as Assistant Director of Minor Leagues and Scouting.

Smith was raised in North Hampton, New Hampshire, and is a 1980 graduate of Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, where he majored in French. Bill, and his wife, Becky, reside in Bloomington, Minnesota. They have three daughters, Allison and Amy, who are twins, and Jennifer.