FISHKILL – The Hudson Valley Renegades, the High-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, announced immediate changes in their senior leadership two days after their last regular-season home game. Steve Gliner, the Renegades president and general manager, will be leaving his current role to become a consultant to the Renegades ownership group, Diamond Baseball Holdings (DBH).
Renegades current Vice President and Assistant General Manager Tyson Jeffers, in the position since 2020, has been elevated to general manager, and director of Corporate Partnerships Zach Betkowski has been promoted to assistant general manager of the team.
“One of our core missions at DBH is to identify talent and promote those within the organization to roles which can positively impact each club,” said Peter Freund, CEO of DBH. “We are thrilled to elevate two rising stars in Tyson Jeffers to GM and Zach Betkowski to AGM to run the Renegades and continue to build on Steve’s incredible legacy in MiLB.”
Jeffers, a Mississippi native, began his career in minor league baseball 10 years ago in St. Paul, MN with the St. Paul Saints, current Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. In his seven years with the Saints, Jeffers worked his way through the ranks starting as a ticket and corporate sales executive before becoming the ticket sales manager, and eventually, the director of Corporate Partnerships.
“Since starting with the Renegades, Steve has been my biggest cheerleader and mentor,” said Jeffers. “He has humbly given me the space to fail, succeed, and grow, and without his guidance and leadership, I would not be ready to take on this responsibility.”
Betkowski, a New York native, began his baseball career in 2014 and spent his nine-years with the Cortland Crush, Vermont Lake Monsters, and Lehigh Valley IronPigs prior to the Renegades. During his time with Lehigh Valley, the team was recognized multiple times for industry excellence, receiving numerous Golden Bobblehead Awards, as well as the Larry MacPhail Award in 2019, awarded to the top promotional team in all of Minor League Baseball.
While with the IronPigs, Betkowski served on the Board of Directors for IronPigs Charities, a 501(c)3 dedicated to providing educational and recreational opportunities for youth in the Lehigh Valley. Betkowski joined the Renegades in March 2021 as the Director of Corporate Partnerships.
“Minor League Baseball is the best industry in sports and entertainment, and I’ve been fortunate to work with and learn from some of the most innovative individuals this industry has to offer,” said Betkowski. “In my two seasons with the Renegades, Steve and Tyson have been extremely supportive of my career ambitions and have empowered me to be a leader with our staff.”
Gliner has had two stints with the Renegades throughout his 35 seasons in minor league baseball. He was part of the initial Renegades staff that started the team in January 1994. He became the Renegades vice president/general manager in October 1998 and was elevated to president/general manager in September 2001. He remained in that role until he departed in September 2003 for the same role with the Fort Myers Miracle in the Florida State League, where he was also the Spring Training coordinator for the Minnesota Twins.
In 2014 and 2015, he helped to oversee a complete renovation of Hammond Stadium at the CenturyLink Sports Complex. After 13 seasons in Fort Myers, Gliner returned to the Renegades in January 2017 as team president and became president/general manager in October 2018.
Gliner begins his new role with Diamond Baseball Holdings as a consultant to the Renegades, focusing on significant construction projects that will be taking place at Dutchess Stadium over the next two years. Among numerous accolades, Gliner was elected to the Florida State League Hall of Fame in 2019.
“Being able to return to Hudson Valley in 2017 was one of the biggest highlights of my career,” said Gliner. “As a staff, we have made great strides in the last few years as we continue to grow our brand and our operation as a New York Yankees affiliate. I am excited to hand over the Renegades to two very talented and deserving individuals in Tyson and Zach. The team is absolutely in great hands! I look forward to getting started in my new role as we work together with the Yankees and Dutchess County to upgrade the player and fan experience at Dutchess Stadium over the next few years and beyond.”
Gliner’s new role will give him an opportunity to spend time with his wife of 30 years, Michelle, as well as their sons Aaron and Ross. The Renegades begin their home season on April 7, 2023, and Gilner said, “I can’t wait for the 2023 season to get here so I can come to games and hang out with the greatest fans in baseball, and be a fan myself. That’s going to be amazing!”
