David Stearns

David Stearns, 36, enters his sixth season leading the organization's baseball operations functions. Stearns was named the ninth general manager in franchise history on September 21, 2015. He officially assumed the position on October 5, 2015 and was promoted to president of baseball operations on January 23, 2019.

Since becoming general manager at the age of 30, Stearns has implemented an approach to build and retain talent across all levels of the organization that could make an impact at the Major League level. The Brewers increased their win total in their first three seasons (2016-18) under Stearns and manager Craig Counsell, recording a 5-game improvement from 2015-16 (68 wins to 73), 13-game improvement from 2016-17 (73 wins to 86) and 10-game improvement from 2017-18 (86 wins to 96). Under Stearns' leadership, the Brewers have earned three consecutive postseason berths (2018-20) for the first time in franchise history, including claiming a National League Wild Card spot in 2020.

In 2018, the team won a franchise record-tying 96 games and the second National League Central Division title in franchise history, swept the Colorado Rockies in the National League Division Series, and came within one game of reaching the World Series. The Brewers also earned Baseball America's 2018 Organization of the Year Award.

Prior to the 2018 season, Stearns orchestrated a series of moves that were key to the team's success as he traded for outfielder Christian Yelich and signed outfielder Lorenzo Cain and starting pitcher Jhoulys Chacín. Yelich went on to earn National League Most Valuable Player honors. Yelich and Cain formed one of the most formidable duos atop the lineup in baseball as each finished in the top five in the NL in on-base percentage. Chacín led the Major Leagues in starts (35).

The Brewers made similar high-impact additions prior to the 2019 season, agreeing to a one-year contract with catcher Yasmani Grandal on January 14 and later bringing back third baseman Mike Moustakas on a one-year deal. The team went on to defy early September odds by winning 17 of 19 games en route to clinching a postseason berth on September 25. The Brewers went 18-5 over their final 23 games -- the best record in baseball during this span -- and secured a National League Wild Card spot, marking the second instance of postseason appearances in consecutive years in franchise history (1981-82).

Stearns joined the Brewers following three seasons (2013-15) as assistant general manager with the Houston Astros, where he was a key member of the management team, focusing on all areas of baseball operations, including analytics, administration, player development and scouting. During his tenure in Houston, the Astros put together one of Major League Baseball's most dramatic turnarounds in recent history, going from 51 wins in 2013 to 70 in 2014 and 86 in 2015 en route to clinching the American League Wild Card, the team's first postseason berth in 10 years.

Prior to joining the Astros, Stearns spent one year as director of baseball operations with the Cleveland Indians, running from December 2011 through November 2012, where he focused on contract negotiations, salary analysis, team strategy and roster management. From 2008-11, he worked in the Office of the Commissioner, most recently as manager of labor relations, where he assisted in the salary arbitration process, handled uniform player contracts, and was a member of Major League Baseball's negotiating team for the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Stearns served baseball operations internships with the Pittsburgh Pirates (summers of 2005-06) and New York Mets (2008). He also worked for the Arizona Fall League as assistant director of baseball operations in 2007.