After just his third year as executive vice president of baseball operations for the Tampa Bay Rays, Andrew Friedman was named the 2008 Sporting News Executive of the Year. At 32 years of age, Friedman is the youngest to win the award in its 72-year history.

Since he was appointed to his post on Nov. 3, 2005, Friedman has assembled a nucleus of young players and added key free agents to help catapult the Rays to the top of the American League. He has aggressively sought to improve the Rays, engineering nearly two dozen trades that have turned over the Major League roster and improved the franchise's Minor League system. Of the 27 Rays players eligible for postseason play last fall, 20 were acquired since Friedman's arrival.

A greater emphasis on player development and renewed attention on international scouting are two of the hallmarks of Friedman's tenure as the Rays top baseball official. In December, the Rays were named Baseball America's 2008 Organization of the Year.

First baseman Carlos Peña, signed as a Minor League free agent in January 2007, has been among the Major League home run leaders since and was the 2007 American League Comeback Player of the Year. Akinori Iwamura, whose rights the Rays secured from the Yakult Swallows in 2006, has been a linchpin both offensively and defensively, playing third base in 2007 before moving to second base last season. Postseason veterans Eric Hinske, Troy Percival, Cliff Floyd and Trever Miller were all signed prior to 2008 and were key contributors during last season's championship run. In January, the Rays signed right-handed power hitter Pat Burrell.

The Rays current roster features more than a dozen players whom Friedman has acquired via trade: Willy Aybar, Grant Balfour, Jason Bartlett, Chad Bradford, Matt Garza, Gabe Gross, J.P. Howell, Dioner Navarro, Justin Ruggiano, Mitch Talbot, Dan Wheeler, Ben Zobrist and Matt Joyce, who was acquired from the Detroit Tigers at the 2008 Winter Meetings in Las Vegas.

Friedman has spearheaded an effort to ensure the long-term success of the franchise, inking James Shields, Scott Kazmir, Peña and Longoria to long-term contracts. In large part due to a farm system widely recognized as one of the deepest and most talented in baseball, the Rays were named Topps Organization of the Year in 2007. Recent drafts have produced 2008 AL Rookie of the Year Evan Longoria and 2008 USA Today Minor League Player of the Year David Price.

On the international front, the Rays have significantly increased their presence in Latin America with an expanded scouting staff and new training facilities in the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Colombia. Last December, the team and the city of Marília, Brazil, announced a partnership that will include construction of a training facility, the first baseball academy run by a Major League organization in Brazil.

Prior to assuming his current role in November 2005, Friedman spent two years with the Rays serving as director of baseball development. Friedman's previous experience includes two years as an analyst with New York City-based investment firm Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc. and three years as an associate for the private equity firm MidMark Capital.

Friedman received a baseball scholarship to Tulane University where he graduated with a bachelor of science in management with a concentration in finance. He played outfield for the Green Wave before injuring his shoulder.

A native of Houston, Texas, Andrew married Robin Hochman this past January. They reside in Tampa.