WAPPINGERS FALLS – The Hudson Valley Renegades dropped a game to the Aberdeen IronBirds Tuesday night but held on to their first-place record which now stands at 27 wins and 19 losses. Rookie General Manager Tyson Jeffers, who was mentored by former General Manager Steve Gliner, was working hard at Heritage Financial Park to make sure the more than 2,000 fans were having a positive experience, despite the 7-0 final score.
When Mid-Hudson News asked him how his first season at the helm of the High-A affiliate of the New York Yankees farm team, the humble Jeffers smiled and said, “It’s going well,” while pointing to the above-average number of fans in the stands for a Tuesday night game that started at 6:05 p.m. He credited the team’s winning record and great baseball weather for the high turnout.
Jeffers credited his mentor, Gliner, who is still involved in professional baseball for helping him acclimate to his new role. “He knew what he was doing,” the young GM said, speaking of the way Gliner let Jeffers shadow him over the last few years to gain insight for his new position. “The one thing I always have to lean on is Steve Gliner – the previous GM. He’s still down the street and I can call him for advice on certain situations,” Jeffers said, while taking a subtle breath of relief.
The Heritage Financial Park, formerly known as Dutchess Stadium is undergoing several changes and improvements that Jeffers has been involved with even before taking over the top spot. The stadium is a Dutchess County park and is undergoing some major improvements and restoration to the structure that has been exposed to the elements for 29 years. A multi-million dollar investment by the county includes upgrades to the structure that are required by Major League Baseball in order for the stadium to remain eligible for Minor League Baseball games. Other changes include new construction projects that will be revealed at a later date. The improvement projects will not impact a visitor’s experience which has drawn tens of thousands of fans to the ballpark since it first opened. Jeffers said the organization’s creative staff are continually working to provide a fun and exciting trip to Heritage Financial Park that compliments the great baseball being played by the ‘Gades.
The remaining schedule for the 2023 Renegades season can be found here.
