CHICAGO -- Former Yale and MLB pitcher Craig Breslow '02 has been promoted to Assistant General Manager/Vice President, Pitching for the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs announced the move Monday.
 
A native of Trumbull, Conn., Breslow is entering his third season with the Cubs. He joined the organization in 2019 as Director of Strategic Initiatives and was named Director, Pitching/Special Assistant to the President and GM prior to the 2020 season.
 
Breslow appeared in 12 Major League seasons (2005-06, 2008-17). He pitched for the Boston Red Sox when they won the World Series in 2013 and also was in the Red Sox organization during their 2007 World Series championship season. He also played for Arizona, Cleveland, Miami, Minnesota, Oakland and San Diego. A left-handed reliever, he totaled 576 appearances and had a 3.45 ERA. He was drafted in the 26th round of the 2002 MLB Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers but was released by them two years later. A yar after that, he signed with the Padres and made his Major League debut.

Yale head coach John Stuper, who earned a World Series ring with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1982, has seen Breslow's potential both on and off the field for years.

"Bres has defied the odds his entire career," said Stuper. "Low draft pick out of Yale. Too small. I don't think many people thought he had a chance to pitch in the big leagues, and yet, he fashioned a stellar 12 year career, including winning two World Series rings. I kind of figured management would be his next logical step. When you are a respected ex-player with his intelligence and people smarts, this is what happens."

Breslow is one of many former Bulldogs in the big leagues. Ryan Lavarnway '09 played for Miami this past season, and Simon Whiteman '19 -- one of a school-record four Yale players selected in the 2019 draft -- earned an invitation to instructional league with the San Francisco Giants. Multiple alums have front office positions, including Mike Elias '06, the executive vice president and general manager of the Baltimore Orioles. Other Bulldogs still in the game in various roles include Charlie Neil '12 (Texas Rangers), Rob Cerfolio '14 (Cleveland Indians), Charles Cook '15 (Houston Astros), Andrew Herrera '17 (Seattle Mariners) and Tyler Duncan '18 (Los Angeles Dodgers). Additionally, former Yale men's basketball player Javier Duren '15 is in the St. Louis Cardinals' front office.

Breslow was a molecular biophysics and biochemistry major at Yale. As a junior he was third in the Ivy League in ERA (2.61) and earned All-Ivy honors. He received Yale Baseball's Man of the Year Award in 2015 shortly after being a finalist for Major League Baseball's Roberto Clemente Award, which honors sportsmanship and community involvement. He founded the Strike 3 Foundation in 2008 to help combat childhood cancer.

Stuper summed up his feelings about Breslow's latest move with a prediction:

"Am I surprised by this? Not in the least. Am I proud? Bres and I are close, and I couldn't be prouder of him. Before long he'll be named somebody's General Manager. Count on that."