Ben Baroody

Director of Leadership Development & Mental Performance Texas Rangers

Ben Baroody is in his eighth season with the Texas Rangers, his second as Director, Leadership, Organizational Development & Mental Performance after being promoted to the new role in September 2021. He oversees the organization’s programs for players and staff on career development, leadership and personal development, mental health and mental performance, education initiatives, as well as culture and organizational development for the Baseball Operations Department. He has been on the organization’s DE&I/community impact advisory board for the past three seasons. Ben spent four seasons (2018-21) as Assistant Director, Baseball Operations. In the previous role, he was responsible for coordinating the administration for the Baseball Operations department including salary arbitration, Major and Minor League contract negotiations and processing, Major League roster management, payroll and transactions, department staff development initiatives, budgets and finances, pro and amateur scouting assignments, and the department’s lead on the planning and construction of Globe Life Field, which opened in 2020. He originally joined the Texas Rangers in January 2016 and served three seasons as Manager of Amateur Scouting on all amateur efforts, including extensive responsibilities with the yearly draft. From 2009-15, Baroody spent seven years at the Commissioner’s Office at Major League Baseball, where he held a number of different roles, the last of which was Senior Director of Baseball Development. During his time with MLB, Ben handled responsibilities including administrative functions involving transactions, rules, contracts, and the Rule 4 and 5 Drafts, serving as a liaison between clubs’ player development departments and Minor League Baseball, and overseeing MLB Urban Youth Academies serving thousands of young players daily. He also developed the Breakthrough Series instructional showcase program and Elite Development Invitational, which focused on efforts to benefit players from potentially at-risk communities. Additionally, he served as lead for event coordination and roster selection of the All-Star Futures Game and event coordinator for several World Baseball Classic events in Taiwan and Japan. Prior to his stint at MLB, Ben spent time in baseball operations with the New York Mets, Arizona Fall League, Bill James’ Baseball Info Solutions and the Lowell Spinners. Originally from Manchester, NH, Baroody attended Trinity High School, serving as baseball captain and also playing basketball and golf. He earned an undergraduate degree from Southern New Hampshire University while working in the Athletics Department. He later completed his MBA from SNHU while working at the Commissioner’s Office.