The Texas Rangers promoted Chris Young to president of baseball operations and signed him to a multi-year contract extension on Friday.

Young, 45, joined the team as executive vice president and general manager in December 2020 and took ownership of the team’s baseball operations group in August 2022. Under his leadership, the Rangers won the first World Series in their 63-year history in 2023.

“Chris Young’s impact on the Texas Rangers organization has been immense over the last four years,” Rangers managing partner and majority owner Ray Davis said. “His leadership and vision were instrumental in helping bring a World Series championship to Arlington for the first time, and he is passionate about producing a consistent winner on the field year in and year out for our fans.”

Before joining the Rangers’ front office, Young worked in MLB’s baseball operations department from 2018-20.

“The Texas Rangers organization holds a very special place for me, and I am excited to continue building on what we’ve started here,” Young said.

Young is the first former major leaguer to win a World Series as the head of baseball operations since Kenny Williams with the Chicago White Sox in 2005.

A third-round pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2000 draft, Young pitched 13 seasons in the majors and finished 79-67 with a 3.95 ERA in 271 games (221 starts).

Young pitched for the Rangers (2004-05), San Diego Padres (2006-10), New York Mets (2011-12), Seattle Mariners (2014) and Kansas City Royals (2015-17). He was an All-Star with the Padres in 2007 and won a World Series with the Royals in 2015.