Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr. announced today that Lara Pitaro Wisch has been named Executive Vice President & General Counsel of Major League Baseball and Ethan Orlinsky has been named Special Counsel to the Commissioner. 

As General Counsel, Wisch will lead MLB’s Legal Department and oversee all of MLB’s attorneys throughout the organization, including those who support all of MLB’s business groups and the league office. Wisch, who will report to Deputy Commissioner, Baseball Administration & Chief Legal Officer Dan Halem, becomes the first female General Counsel in the Office of the Commissioner’s history. She joined MLB in 2004 and served most recently as Senior Vice President & General Counsel of MLB Advanced Media, the digital arm of MLB. Immediately prior to joining MLB, Wisch was an associate with the law firm of Vinson and Elkins. Wisch earned her B.S. from Cornell University and her J.D. from Fordham University School of Law. Wisch succeeds Mike Mellis, who recently was named Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Officer of the New York Yankees.

In his new role, Orlinsky will advise the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner Halem on issues relating to governance and administration, Club and league policies, international, legislative and new business initiatives, and the Minor Leagues, among other matters. Orlinsky will also continue to serve as point person with the MLB Players Association on labor business issues and provide guidance and support to the Clubs and MLB’s business and legal groups in a variety of different areas. Orlinsky, who joined MLB in 1992, most recently served in the role of Senior Vice President, Legal, Business & Club Affairs of Major League Baseball. Orlinsky earned his B.A. from Stanford University and his J.D. from New York University.