DETROIT, MI – The Detroit Tigers today announced promotions within the club’s baseball operations department.
Sam Menzin has been named Vice President and Assistant General Manager, after serving as the club’s Director of Baseball Operations and Professional Scouting for the past four seasons. Prior to that role, Menzin held the title of Director of Baseball Operations, Baseball Operations Analyst and Coordinator of Baseball Operations. Menzin is involved in all aspects of Major League operations including player procurement, contract negotiations, roster construction, salary arbitration, MLB rules and CBA compliance, professional scouting, advance scouting and Major League video operations, while also serving as the club’s COVID-19 Compliance Officer for the last two seasons. The 31-year-old native of Westbury, New York works closely with all members of the front office and coaching staff, and is a key advisor to Al Avila, Tigers Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager.
Jay Sartori has been named Vice President and Assistant General Manager. Over his six seasons with the Tigers, previously serving as Senior Director of Baseball Analytics and Operations, Sartori has managed the creation and growth of the club’s baseball analytics department, and integration of data analytics and technology into all areas of the club’s baseball operations, including scouting, player development and the Major League operations. The 42-year-old native of Lynnfield, Massachusetts will continue to be a key advisor to Al Avila in all aspects of Major League and Minor League operations.
Prior to joining the Tigers he spent three years at Apple, Inc., where he managed the App Store Sports and Entertainment categories and then App Store Business Operations; three seasons (2011-13) as Assistant General Manager for the Toronto Blue Jays; one season (2010) as Director, Baseball Operations for the Washington Nationals; and four seasons (2006-09) in Major League Baseball’s Labor Relations Department in the role of Manager of Salary and Contract Administration, where he served as a primary contact for club personnel with respect to the interpretation of the Major League Rules, the Collective Bargaining Agreement and other contractual and financial industry practices. Prior to joining the Commissioner’s Office, he worked in the investment banking industry for Robertson Stephens and Pacific Growth Equities, and is a 2001 graduate of Boston College, where he earned degrees in Finance and Management Information Systems.
Kenny Graham, the organization’s Director of Player Development, will oversee the club’s player development system on an interim basis, as the club’s Vice President of Player Development, Dave Littlefield, transitions to a new role as a special assignment scout. Graham, who is completing his second season with the organization, plays a key role in implementing hitting development and strategies, establishing an organization-wide hitting protocol with a focus on utilizing data and technology to aid growth and performance. Prior to joining the Tigers, Graham most recently spent three seasons as the Minor League hitting coordinator for Milwaukee.
