Hudson Valley Renegades (Short Season A; NY-Penn League) Executive Vice President/General Manager Eben Yager has stepped down from his post to pursue other opportunities, according a team announcement. Renegades President Steve Gliner will assume the General Manager responsibilities.
Yager spent the last 11 years as Renegades General Manager after joining the club in 2007 from another Goldklang Group owned team, the St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association). Under his guidance and leadership, the Renegades experienced steady corporate growth, while maintaining their status as the premiere family entertainment option in the Hudson Valley. In 2013 the Renegades were named Business of the Year in Dutchess County by the Think Dutchess Business Excellence Awards. Yager was awarded the New York-Penn League Executive of the Year Award in 2014 and the past season, the league honored the Renegades with its nomination for Minor League Baseball’s Larry MacPhail Promotional Trophy, which is given for outstanding promotional efforts by the team.
“Eben leaves behind a wonderful legacy of hard work and strategic growth,” said Jeff Goldklang, President of the club’s ownership group. “Two decades in Minor League Baseball is a heck of a run, and I have no doubt that whatever he chooses to do for the next chapter of his career will prove to be as successful.”
In addition to his work with the Renegades, Yager was President of another Goldklang Group team, the Pittsfield Suns (summer collegiate; Futures League) since 2015. He began his tenure with the Goldklang Group in 2002 where he spent five years with the Saints, eventually being promoted to Assistant General Manager. Yager began his career in baseball in 2000 with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays as an Account Executive and spent one year with the Portland Beavers (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) as Director of Ticket Sales and Operations in 2002.
“I’d like to thank the Goldklang Family for their support over the years toward myself and my family. They are a first-class organization and I’m truly lucky to have been a part of such a great organization for most of my career. I’m not sure yet what the second chapter of my career will bring, however I am very excited about the prospect of getting to spend more time with my family and kids during the summer,” said Yager.
Gliner returned home to Hudson Valley on January 1, 2017 and has worked for three separate Goldklang Group teams. In addition to the Renegades, he has worked for the Charleston RiverDogs (Low A; Sally League) and Fort Myers Miracle (High A; Florida State League).
Following two seasons with the Albany-Colonie Yankees (Class AA; Eastern League), in December 1989 Gliner became Assistant General Manager of then Charleston Rainbows (now RiverDogs) and began his first stint with the Renegades in January, 1994. From 1994-96 Gliner was the Director of Sales and Marketing before being promoted to Assistant General Manager in 1997. Following the 1998 season he was elevated to Vice President/General Manager. In 2001 he became the President/General Manager of the Renegades, where he remained until 2003.
Gliner then moved south with his family and took over as General Manager of the Miracle in 2003, continuing in that role until 2011 when he was promoted to President. In 2014 he was appointed COO of the organization before moving back to where it all began with Hudson Valley, in 2017.