MADISON – Roger Wexelberg will work as the first president of Madison’s new baseball team in the Southern League.

Wexelberg, a veteran of 25-plus years in professional sports, has completed stints as general manager for three minor league teams. He will serve as President of the Southern League baseball franchise that will move from Mobile to Madison for the 2020 season.

Wexelberg began his Minor League Baseball career in 1984 with the Triple-A Oklahoma City 89ers and worked there seven seasons. He then worked as General Manager four years each with the Fort Myers Miracle and Orlando Cubs.

From 2001-2010, he served as President, General Manager and part owner of the Gary SouthShore RailCats, one of the most successful independent minor league teams in the country. He was chosen Northern League Executive of the Year in 2005 and led the league’s 2006 Organization of the Year.

Ralph Nelson, Managing Partner and CEO of BallCorps LLC, said, “Roger’s resume perfectly fit the profile we created for the day-to-day leader of our organization. He has experience building a start-up minor league team, has been through the construction of a new ballpark and has assembled some of the most productive staffs and sales and marketing teams in sports.”

“You simply cannot find a more qualified individual to lead our new team in Madison than Roger Wexelberg,” Nelson said.

“I applaud the decision by Ralph Nelson and BallCorps to add Roger Wexelberg to the organization,” Pat O’Conner said. O’Conner is Minor League Baseball President & CEO. “Roger is a longtime Minor League Baseball executive with a proven record of success. He will be a tremendous asset to the ball club, local partners and, most importantly, fans of North Alabama.”

Wexelberg feels excited about his return to the Southern League. “I look forward to helping bring the fun, affordable, family experience that is minor league baseball back to Madison County and the surrounding area,” he said.

Since 2015, Wexelberg has worked for Learfield, the leading multi-media rights holder in intercollegiate athletics. Most recently, he was General Manager of Bradley Sports Properties and coordinated sponsor partnerships for Bradley University Athletics in Peoria, Ill.

Roger and his wife, Jodie, a former front office executive for the NBA’s Orlando Magic, have two children: Ryan, 21, and Rachael, 19. The family already is living in the Madison area.

Wexelberg began work with BallCorps in Madison on July 15 and also will take over as President of the Mobile Bay Bears on Oct. 1.