For the second consecutive season, Josh Byrnes and his staff built a roster featuring young, mostly homegrown talent. In 2008, the D-backs spent a franchise-best 136 days in first place until relinquishing the top spot in September. Overall, no other NL club has spent more days than the D-backs’ 212 days in first place over the last two seasons. In 2007-08, Arizona has the Majors’ ninth-highest winning percentage (.531) despite having the 10th-lowest payroll.

Byrnes’ success in putting together competitive teams also includes a D-backs club that had a league-best 90-72 record in 2007 and surprised many by winning the NL West Championship in a competitive division that was the first in the Wild Card era (1995-present) to have four teams finish with winning records and two teams eventually meet in the League Championship Series. The D-backs remarkable 2007 season came only three years after leading MLB with 111 losses in 2004, tying three other teams (2006 Tigers, 1991 Braves, 1996 Padres) in baseball history to make the playoffs within three years of having a 100-plus loss season.

Byrnes began his front office career in 1994 as the Cleveland Indians were moving into then-Jacobs Field (now Progressive Field). In his time with the Indians, Byrnes performed a myriad of duties (advance scouting, contract research and preparation, pro scouting) before being named Director of Scouting in 1998. During Byrnes’ stint in Cleveland, the Indians broke a 41-year playoff drought and won five consecutive American League Central titles.

In the fall of 1999, Byrnes followed Dan O’Dowd to Colorado as the Assistant General Manager of the Rockies. During his three years in Colorado, Byrnes assisted O’Dowd on all Major League transactions and also was involved in the club’s scouting and development operations.

After the 2002 season, Byrnes accepted the Assistant General Manager position with the Boston Red Sox. Working with Theo Epstein, Byrnes assisted in all Major League personnel and contractual issues and continued an active role in all scouting matters. During Byrnes’ three years in Boston, the Red Sox won at least 95 games each year, participated in the playoffs each season and ended the franchise’s 86-year championship drought with a World Series title in 2004.

During his previous stints with other MLB clubs, Byrnes was involved in the drafting of CC Sabathia, Jeff Francis, Garrett Atkins, Brad Hawpe, Jonathan Papelbon, Dustin Pedroia, and Jacoby Ellsbury.

Originally from Washington, D.C., Byrnes attended Haverford College in Pennsylvania, establishing school career records for home runs and RBI (since broken). Currently, Byrnes and his wife, Charity, reside in Phoenix with their daughters Avery and Darby.