John Stuper loved coaching Mike Elias at Yale, for reasons that extended far beyond the left-hander's prowess on the baseball diamond.
"He's always been one of my favorites," said Stuper, who's been Yale's head baseball coach since 1993.
Elias was a four-year letterman at the Ivy League school, appearing in 44 games, including 22 starts, from 2002-2006. He won nine games and struck out 80 batters throughout 148.2 innings.
After graduation, he pursued a career in the management side of Major League Baseball and has thrived each step of the way. Elias' rise through the ranks culminated in him being named the new executive vice president and general manager of the Baltimore Orioles Nov. 16.
