Wisconsin Timber Rattler’s President Rob Zerjav was named the 2023 Baseball America Minor League Executive of the Year in December.
Zerjav, who started as an intern with the team in 1997, oversaw a year in which attendance rose 10 percent, a major stadium renovation was completed and the naming rights for the stadium were extended 10 years.
Third Base Ventures, bought the Timber Rattlers from Appleton Baseball Club, Inc. in 2020 and Zerjav became president and CEO at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic had halted the season and Major League Baseball had announced it was trimming minor league clubs from 160 to 120.
The $10 million expansion completed prior to the start of the 2023 season included new seating areas, a slide for fans, new outdoor suites above the left field wall, and a wider concourse that allows fans to walk around the entire field . Another new area for fans is the Home Plate Club.
The player clubhouses were significantly expanded with the home clubhouse including two indoor batting cages, two player-focused areas for nutrition and relaxation, expanded offices for coaches, a dedicated female locker room, an expanded training area, and a large weight room connected to an outdoor player agility field.
The naming rights deal with the Neuroscience Group was announced in August. It extended a relationship that began in January 2014 when the Neuroscience group first agreed to acquire naming rights for the team’s stadium.
The team received the Midwest League President’s Award in 2005, 2018, and 2019 and was recognized four times – in 2012, 2015, 2016, and 2017 – by the Midwest League for promotional excellence. In 2019, the Timber Rattlers were awarded two Minor League Baseball Golden Bobbleheads for Theme Night of the Year as well as Promotion of the Year. In 2019, the team was named to the inaugural list of Top 50 best employers in all of sports by Front Office Sports.
