Rob Manfred calls Detroit Tigers owner Chris Ilitch ‘exciting addition’ – Detroit Free Press

Mike Ilitchs success made him one of the best known people in Michigan. Detroit Free Press

Tigers owner Chris Ilitch on the field Friday, Feb. 24, 2017 at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla.(Photo: Kirthmon F. Dozier, DFP)

Christopher Ilitch has made a good impression on the commissioner.

While speaking with the media on Tuesday afternoon at Comerica Park, Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said Ilitch, the Detroit Tigers president and CEO, has been an exciting addition to baseballs ownership group.

I think one of the most exciting additions to our ownership group in recent years has been Chris Ilitchs involvement, Manfred said. Even before he became the control person, hes brought a really intense sense of excitement about the Tigers to our owner meetings and very engaged in a variety of products at the ownership level.

I think Chris Ilitch is going to be a member of our little fraternity for a long time.

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Ilitch, 51, assumed his current role when his father, Mike Ilitch, died in February. Mike Ilitch bought the team in 1992.

While in Detroit, Manfred took a tour of Little Caesars Arena, which will open as the home of the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Pistons next month, and saw the development projectsthe Ilitch companies are undertaking.

I think when you have a day like I had today, its hard not to feel that the future of Detroit and the future of the Tigers is really, really bright, Manfred said.

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At present, though, the team is facing a crossroads of sorts. This season, the Tigers are 54-70, which ranks second-to-last in the American League. They will likely enter a rebuilding phase in the off-season, which could mean a significant stretch of losing baseball.

Christopher Ilitch of Ilitch Holdings stands in front of the Fox Theatre marquee, during the relighting event in Detroit in October 2015.(Photo: Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press)

I think baseball is a very, very difficult game, Manfred said. We have the most competitive postseason in the sense that the fewest teams actually get to the postseason on a percentage basis. I dont think in recent years payroll has been a particularly good predictor of whether or not a particular team is going to win. I think that Chris understands both based on his experience with the Tigers and his experience in hockey that most winning franchises build from within with young players and I think hes going to pursue a strategy that is designed to produce a winner here in Detroit.

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Contact Anthony Fenech: afenech@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @anthonyfenech.

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Rob Manfred calls Detroit Tigers owner Chris Ilitch 'exciting addition' - Detroit Free Press