Tigers’ Scott Harris praised by his peers as one of MLB’s top front office execs

Following the weekend sweep of the Orioles, the Tigers find themselves atop the American League with an 18-10 record. That they're in this position will be surprising to some, continuing on from qualifying for the playoffs last year for the first time since 2014.

However, any surprise does not extend to the Tigers' peers, with organizations impressed by what they're doing in Detroit. This much is evident based on a survey completed by The Athletic, which polled 40 executives from across baseball, asking each of them to rank the top five front offices.

While the Tigers didn't rank in the top five they still placed well at 12th, speaking volumes about the improvement within the organization after nearly a decade of mediocrity. At the heart of their growth is Scott Harris, as one president of baseball operations said: "They’ve really made strides under Scott Harris. They’ve made smart moves and been aggressive when opportunities exist, and they haven’t tied themselves down with long-term contracts."

Scott Harris focused on youth as he builds Detriot Tigers

Harris only took over as the Tigers' president of baseball operations in September 2022, but his influence is undeniable. He's turned the franchise around by focusing on youth, evidenced by having the No. 1 farm system in baseball and in turn one of MLB's youngest rosters.

The momentum from last year's charge to the playoffs has spilled over into 2025, and you can't put the Tigers' early success down to smoke and mirrors. At the time of writing they lead the AL in run differential, thanks to a pitching staff which ranks second in ERA and third WHIP.

On the subject of pitching, a prime example of Harris' positive influence in Detroit is what happened with starter Jack Flaherty. Despite being moved to the Dodgers at last year's trade deadline, he still decided to return to Motown.

Tigers embracing the chaos

Speaking of pitching, how the players bought into the wonderfully phrased "pitching chaos" last season speaks volumes. Due to the combination of injuries and trading Flaherty, the Tigers ended up with 14 different pitchers getting starts, but the end results justified this strategy.

What impresses baseball analysts and other MLB front offices alike is that Harris has established an identity for the Tigers and has a clear plan of what he's doing. As we previously wrote about in February, ESPN's Kiley McDaniel said: "To use economic terms, they are finding value in every little pocket around the league. ... They're just generally doing a good job, which, again, sounds very basic. It's not basic. It is difficult."

They often say the great ones make it look easy, but no matter the perception it's clear Harris has his finger on the pulse. And if he continues on his current path, it's conceivable the Tigers will be one of the top five front offices in baseball when The Athletic conducts its next survey 12 months from now.

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