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Personnel news from New Orleans, Visalia

Visalia Rawhide alt logoWe have personnel news this morning from the New Orleans Zephyrs (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) and the Visalia Rawhide (High Class A; California League).

In New Orleans, David Warner has joined the Zephyrs front office staff as Executive Director of Business Development. He joins the Zephyrs from the National Kidney Foundation of Louisiana, where he served as Development Manager for two years. Previous employment includes the American Red Cross and the Ole Miss Calling Center, where he managed fundraising campaigns for his alma mater.

A native of Columbia, Mississippi, Warner graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2007 with a BA in History/Political Science.

“I was drawn to the Zephyrs due to their reputation within the Greater New Orleans community, as well as the opportunity to interact with the public and supporters of the organization on a day-to-day basis,” Warner said. “Additionally, as a lifelong sports fan, working in Minor League Baseball was a great opportunity.”

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In Visalia, Matt Cooper, who was previously the General Manager of the Sydney Blue Sox of the Australian Baseball League, has joined the club as Baseball Operations Manager. While multiple Australian-born baseball players have played professional baseball in America, Matt is the first to become a full-time member of a Minor League front office.

“We’re very excited to welcome Matt to Visalia,” said Rawhide General Manager Jennifer Pendergraft. “He’s proven his work ethic and passion for this industry in Sydney, and we know he’s going to be an outstanding addition to our award-winning staff.”

A lifelong baseball enthusiast who played the sport for 17 years, Cooper began working in the fledgling Australian Baseball League upon its inception in 2010, and worked his way up to the lead executive position with the Blue Sox. His experience culminated in his involvement with the 2014 MLB Opening Series in Sydney, which saw the Los Angeles Dodgers play the Arizona Diamondbacks at the historic Sydney Cricket Grounds.

In his new role with the Rawhide, Cooper will help oversee various aspects of ballpark operations, including clubhouse logistics, team travel coordination, serving as the Diamondbacks’ point person for affiliate relations, and assisting with player appearances in the community.

“I’m incredibly delighted to be working in Visalia, and I’m looking forward to getting to grips with Minor League Baseball,” Cooper said. “I’ve heard so many great things about the organization from people around the industry, and it’s an honor to join such a great staff. I’m also hopeful that more Australians will follow and become involved in baseball management as the sport continues to grow.”

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