PHILADELPHIA – Ruben Amaro Jr. became general manager of the World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies on Monday, a quarter-century after he was the team's batboy.

Ruben Amaro Jr. responds to questions during a news conference to announce his signing a three-year contract to become general manager of the World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies Monday Nov. 3, 2008 in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/ Joseph Kaczmarek)

Amaro, who signed a three-year contract, just completed his 10th season as assistant Phillies GM and replaces the retiring Pat Gillick.

The 43-year-old Amaro called his promotion "a little surreal."

"For the life of me, I would have never thought I would have been in this position," he said.

Amaro worked under former GM Ed Wade for seven seasons and the last three with Gillick. He was considered the front-runner for the job after Gillick said this would be his last season.

Amaro got the nod over Mike Arbuckle, another assistant GM who spent the last 15 years with the Phillies. Arbuckle, who led the team's scouting efforts, will not be returning next year, team president Dave Montgomery said.

Last week, the Phillies beat the Tampa Bay Rays to capture their second title in franchise history.

Amaro's father was a Phillies shortstop from 1960-65. The son was a batboy in 1980, the Phillies' only other championship year. He later spent parts of eight seasons as a major league player, including a stint with the 1993 Phillies team that lost to Toronto in the World Series.

One of Amaro's first assignments will be to attend this week's general managers' meetings in Dana Point, Calif.