Frank Wren
Encyclopedia
Franklin E. Wren is an American
front office executive in Major League Baseball
. Since the end of the baseball season, he has been the general manager
of the Atlanta Braves
.
Wren attended St. Petersburg Junior College and signed with the Montreal Expos
as an outfielder
in 1977. In five minor league
seasons, he batted
.259 and peaked with a 38-game trial with the Double-A Memphis Chicks
in 1980. He joined the Montreal front office as assistant director of scouting in 1987
.
, Wren's boss, Expo GM Dave Dombrowski
, accepted the position of general manager of the Florida Marlins
, a National League
expansion franchise set to begin play in 1993
. Wren followed Dombrowski to the Marlins as the club's assistant general manager. He was promoted to vice president in 1996
. In 1997
, a veteran-laden Marlin club won the franchise's first World Series championship
. The following year, in 1998
, owner H. Wayne Huizenga would order his front office to divest the team of its high-priced veterans, and the Marlins spiraled into the basement of the National League East Division. Nevertheless, Dombrowski, his front office and his farm system were considered among the best in baseball.
resigned as GM of the Orioles at the close of the 1998 season, Wren was recruited as his replacement. But the 1999
Orioles were a major disappointment. The club finished six games under .500 despite one of the highest payrolls in the game and the signing of free agent
slugger Albert Belle
to the most lucrative contract in baseball at the time. During the season, Wren and the team were criticized publicly by Baltimore owner Peter Angelos
, and after just one season, the owner replaced Wren with veteran executive Syd Thrift
.
, a position that he held for almost eight years. On October 11, 2007, Schuerholz was named president of the Braves and Wren was promoted to executive vice president and general manager, signing a four-year contract.
Frank Wren has been known to be a deal-maker and to develop a strong farm system. Wren has made many trades and signings in his several years working as the GM of the Braves. Wren has had 25 prospects develop into Top 100 prospects since pre-2008, notably Jason Heyward
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
front office executive in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. Since the end of the baseball season, he has been the general manager
General manager (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, the general manager of a team typically controls player transactions and bears the primary responsibility on behalf of the ballclub during contract discussions with players....
of the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
.
Wren attended St. Petersburg Junior College and signed with the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
as an outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
in 1977. In five minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
seasons, he batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.259 and peaked with a 38-game trial with the Double-A Memphis Chicks
Memphis Chicks
The Memphis Chicks were an American minor league baseball team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The Chicks were charter members of the Southern Association from 1901 until November 18, 1960, when the club folded and was transferred to Macon, Georgia for 1961.The Chicks suffered a...
in 1980. He joined the Montreal front office as assistant director of scouting in 1987
1987 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Minnesota Twins over St. Louis Cardinals ; Frank Viola, MVP**American League Championship Series: Gary Gaetti, MVP**National League Championship Series: Jeff Leonard, MVP...
.
Florida Marlins
In September of 19911991 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Minnesota Twins over Atlanta Braves ; Jack Morris, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Kirby Puckett*National League Championship Series MVP: Steve Avery...
, Wren's boss, Expo GM Dave Dombrowski
Dave Dombrowski
David Dombrowski is the current president, CEO, and general manager of the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball.-Chicago White Sox:...
, accepted the position of general manager of the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
, a National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
expansion franchise set to begin play in 1993
1993 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Toronto Blue Jays over Philadelphia Phillies ; Paul Molitor, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Dave Stewart*National League Championship Series MVP: Curt Schilling...
. Wren followed Dombrowski to the Marlins as the club's assistant general manager. He was promoted to vice president in 1996
1996 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Atlanta Braves ; John Wetteland, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Bernie Williams**American League Division Series*National League Championship Series MVP: Javy López...
. In 1997
1997 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Florida Marlins over Cleveland Indians ; Liván Hernández, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Marquis Grissom**American League Division Series*National League Championship Series MVP: Liván Hernández...
, a veteran-laden Marlin club won the franchise's first World Series championship
1997 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 18, 1997 at Pro Player Stadium in Miami Gardens, FloridaThe first World Series game in the state of Florida, Game 1 featured a youngster and a veteran facing each other on the mound...
. The following year, in 1998
1998 in baseball
-Headline events of the year:*Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Ken Griffey, Jr., and Greg Vaughn all hit 30 home runs before the All-Star break and engage in a historic chase for Roger Maris's single-season record of 61 home runs...
, owner H. Wayne Huizenga would order his front office to divest the team of its high-priced veterans, and the Marlins spiraled into the basement of the National League East Division. Nevertheless, Dombrowski, his front office and his farm system were considered among the best in baseball.
Baltimore Orioles
When Pat GillickPat Gillick
Lawrence Patrick David Gillick is a retired American professional baseball executive. He was the general manager of four Major League Baseball teams, and guided two teams to three World Series championships in his career: in 1992 and 1993 titles with the Toronto Blue Jays, and a 2008 title with...
resigned as GM of the Orioles at the close of the 1998 season, Wren was recruited as his replacement. But the 1999
1999 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Atlanta Braves ; Mariano Rivera, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Orlando Hernández**American League Division Series:*National League Championship Series MVP: Eddie Pérez...
Orioles were a major disappointment. The club finished six games under .500 despite one of the highest payrolls in the game and the signing of free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
slugger Albert Belle
Albert Belle
Albert Jojuan Belle is a former American Major League Baseball outfielder for the Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, and Baltimore Orioles...
to the most lucrative contract in baseball at the time. During the season, Wren and the team were criticized publicly by Baltimore owner Peter Angelos
Peter Angelos
Peter G. Angelos , is an American trial lawyer.Angelos is also the majority owner of the Baltimore Orioles, a baseball team in the American League East Division.-Career:...
, and after just one season, the owner replaced Wren with veteran executive Syd Thrift
Syd Thrift
Sydnor W. Thrift Jr. was an American scout and executive in Major League Baseball who served as the general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1985 to 1988, and the de facto general manager of the Baltimore Orioles from 1999 to 2002...
.
Atlanta Braves
Wren then joined the Braves as top assistant general to longtime Atlanta general manager John SchuerholzJohn Schuerholz
John Schuerholz is the President of the Atlanta Braves of the National League. Before joining Atlanta, he spent twenty-two years with the Kansas City Royals organization, including nine as the club's General Manager. Among the teams he has built are the 1985 Royals and 1995 Braves, both world...
, a position that he held for almost eight years. On October 11, 2007, Schuerholz was named president of the Braves and Wren was promoted to executive vice president and general manager, signing a four-year contract.
Frank Wren has been known to be a deal-maker and to develop a strong farm system. Wren has made many trades and signings in his several years working as the GM of the Braves. Wren has had 25 prospects develop into Top 100 prospects since pre-2008, notably Jason Heyward
Jason Heyward
Jason Alias Heyward , nicknamed J-Hey and J-Hey-Kid, is a Major League Baseball right fielder for the Atlanta Braves. He throws and bats left-handed....
.