We have personnel news today from the Fresno Grizzlies (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) and the Green Bay Bullfrogs (summer collegiate; Northwoods League).
In Fresno, Paul Braverman is the new Media Relations and Baseball Operations Coordinator for the Grizzlies. 2016 will be Braverman’s 12th season in professional baseball, all in a communications and media relations role. Fresno is his fifth organization in the industry.
Braverman was previously with the Jamestown Jammers (short season A, New York-Penn League) in 2005, the Toledo Mud Hens (Class AAA; International League) for the 2006-2007 seasons, the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (independent; Atlantic League) for the 2009-2010 seasons, and had two separate stints with the York Revolution (Atlantic League), the 2008 season and the 2011 through 2015 seasons.
The last eight baseball seasons, Braverman has been responsible for all team communications for either Southern Maryland or York of the Atlantic League, dealing in all media coverage procurement, coordination of press announcements and press conferences, baseball information, team publications and acting as primary team spokesperson. Braverman is paired with Lance Cardoza of Business Street media group, who remains as a media consultant to the Fresno Grizzlies for the 2016 season.
“We’re happy to have Paul join the organization, and with his past experience, he’ll be able to hit the ground running,” said Grizzlies General Manager Derek Franks. “It’s exciting that we truly have a ‘communications team’ by pairing Paul’s knowledge of our industry with Lance and his expertise surrounding this market. Our goal is to have everything we do from a media relations standpoint be the best in Minor League Baseball, to match our championship club on the field.”
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In Green Bay, Seth Flolid is new General Manager of the Bullfrogs. Flolid replaces Derek McCarty, who recently stepped away for family reasons. Flolid comes from the Beloit Snappers (Low A; Midwest League), where he served as General Manager.
“I love the community,” Flolid said. “There is such a great sense of family surrounding this team and I am happy to be a part of it. I’m obsessed with the spectacle of baseball; I have always wanted to work in the game. This opportunity with the Bullfrogs gives me the chance to grow and work with Big Top Baseball and provides me with an exciting career opportunity.”
“We are excited to welcome Seth to the Bullfrogs and the Big Top Baseball family,” Bullfrogs owners Steve Schmitt, Vern Stenman and Conor Caloia said in a joint statement. “We feel that Seth is a great fit to lead the Bullfrogs into the next chapter of the franchise. He brings a great deal of operational experience and shares a common vision of always putting the fans first.”
Flolid, a native of Chanhassen, Minnesota, graduated in 2012 with a degree in Sport Management from the University of Minnesota State, Mankato. Prior to his graduation, Flolid began his career in baseball as an intern for the Duluth Huskies (summer collegiate; Northwoods League). The following year, he worked as a Stadium Operations Intern for the Arkansas Travelers (Class AA; Texas League). In 2014, Flolid made the trek back to the Midwest, working his way from Director of Operations to General Manager with the Snappers.
“There’s a lot of momentum behind this team and we have a great staff in place,” Flolid said. “This is going to allow us to keep our focus on reaching new heights and making the 2016 season the best year ever at Joannes Stadium.”