The Story Of How Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen Battled Back From His Family Tragedy Will Turn You Into a Puddle And Make You Root For The Snakes In The World Series

Elsa. Getty Images.

I know there's some people out there who are bummed with the remaining two teams we have for the World Series. I mean let's be honest, Texas and Arizona isn't going to be a ratings bonanza. With that being said, there's a story coming full circle with the Diamondbacks that's worth your attention and will make you root for them. 

Introducing Arizona’s GM Mike Hazen. Mike came over from Boston in 2016 where he was the GM of the team under President of Baseball Ops Dave Dombrowski. He had worked his way up from the director of player development over there starting in 2006, but clearly wanted to be the guy calling the shots. When the D-Backs job opened up he jumped ship and headed across the country. With him he brought then-Sox bench coach Torey Lovullo, who was beloved by players, to be his manager. In year one they turned a 69 win team into 93, and made their way to the postseason for the first time in six years. They would go onto get swept at the hands of the Dodgers, but it was still a clear sign that progress was being made and the new regime was a fit. 

Advertisement

Arizona stayed competitive for a bit after that until 2021 came around. Hazen had to take a leave of absence mid-season because of a developing family situation. His wife Nicole's glioblastoma, a malignant brain cancer, had taken a turn and forced him to step away to be with her. While life clearly became priority over baseball, the Diamondbacks at the same time had only their second 100 loss season in the franchise's history. 

Things didn't get a whole lot better in 2022, in fact they got worse for Mike. Still, the way the Diamondbacks family helped him in every way possible is cool to hear. 

(AZ Central) Hazen’s front office is close-knit and collaborative, and a tight gaggle crammed together for intense 80-hour workweeks. They laugh and tease and argue and forgive, and their families intertwine. Naturally, the GM hid nothing from his friends and co-workers — not Nicole’s first seizure and not the results of her biopsy or any of the dispiriting updates that followed. They sprang into action however they could. (Assistant GM Amiel) Sawdaye fielded calls on Hazen’s behalf, sharing news of Nicole’s progress so the GM didn’t have to. When Hazen had to drive Nicole to chemotherapy, former assistant GM Jared Porter took the boys to school. Kristen Lovullo, the wife of manager Torey Lovullo, spent months at Nicole’s side and helped raise her children.

Stuff that like that makes it almost impossible to root against this team. 

Hazen continued to run the team, but from afar. He had to be there for his wife and four sons. Sadly enough, just a few days after the 2022 trade deadline, Nicole passed away. I don't think it was a total shock considering they had stopped treatments for her, as anything further would have expedited her death. Still, completely devastating beyond belief. 

When the offseason rolled around, some weren't sure if Mike would return. 

Team owner Ken Kendrick and president Derrick Hall encouraged him to take his time to decide whether to return. Hazen put the question to his boys. Did they want their dad to keep doing this for a living? The vote to continue had to be unanimous, and a single “no” would have sealed his fate. “I was a child away,” Hazen said.

Each boy said yes. Baseball and the Diamondbacks had been their lives before, and they would be again.

With the blessing of his sons, Hazen came back to the team in 2023 and continued to build a competitor. He wanted to finish what he started back in 2017. Seemingly every move he made ended up turning into gold. In the offseason he traded Daulton Varsho to Toronto in exchange for Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Gabriel Moreno. So far that deal has been looked about as lopsided as it gets with the guys Arizona received greatly contributing to their current success. Moreno has been AWESOME this whole postseason. The Snakes also went and got Paul Sewald at the deadline from Seattle and helped their lackluster bullpen. Hazen also acquired Tommy Pham from the Mets to further help the lineup. Arizona was kind of the edge of contention at the time and seeing them stand pat was certainly possible. 

Hazen bought and Arizona made the playoffs as a wild card team. They went onto sweep Milwaukee on the road in the WC round before brooming the Dodgers next. Hazen's four sons threw out the first pitch before Game 3 against LA. 

Chris Coduto. Getty Images.

Advertisement

He talked after that game about celebrating the moment. Motherfucker has been through hell and back over the last few years. He deserves all of this. Jump in that pool as much as you want, sir. 

To most that would have been enough of a run to view this all as a great success. Obviously you want to keep winning, but there's no shame losing to Philly in the next round. Embarrassing the Dodgers, a team that's ran through you for years, was a dream in itself. Hazen had said his two goals this year were to buy at the deadline and to be playing meaningful baseball late in the season. 

After being down 2-0 to the Fightins early on, it seemed like the party was about to end. Still a lot to build on with all the young talented players they had flooded throughout the roster. Well, last night Arizona officially flipped the script and won the NLCS in seven games, winning both Games 6 and 7 in Philly. One of the more improbable journeys gets to continue and right in the middle of it all is Mike Hazen. 

Still heartbreaking to hear him talk about his late wife not being there. 

Advertisement

Someone cutting onions in here? 

Some in baseball thought he was the right man to take over the Red Sox with Chaim Bloom out of the picture. Instead Hazen signed a long-term extension with Arizona in early October to ensure he was staying put. There's loyalty, love, and trust all over this organization that you have to appreciate. They've been behind this guy for years and now it's all coming to fruition. He's become one of the best minds in the sport and now because of him we get to watch the Arizona Diamondbacks crash the party and play in the World Series. 

Go Snakes. Let's get Mike Hazen a World Series ring that he can rock in the pool. And as always, fuck cancer.