• Loading stock data...
Monday, June 16, 2025

Reno’s Newest Ace: Making History in the Pacific Coast League

Emily Jaenson, seen here, is the highest-ranking female in Minor League Baseball. (Photo via the Reno Aces)

The Arizona Diamondbacks Triple-A team, the Reno Aces, made major league news last week, announcing the recent hiring of Emily Jaenson as the team’s new General Manager. The move makes Jaenson the highest-ranking female in Minor League Baseball; the second GM in Reno Aces history, and the first female GM in the Pacific Coast League in almost twenty years.

As a lifelong sports fan and ambitious business professional, Jaenson is thrilled with the position and eager to get started, as it is essentially an extension of “who she is, what she does, and what she is most passionate about.”

“We are extremely excited to have Emily rejoin our team. She was consistently a superstar in her time in Reno, leading her team to success and influencing all aspects of our business,” said President Eric Edelstein. “Emily is a true leader. I’m thrilled to inject her energy, intelligence, and work ethic back into our Greater Nevada Field.”

[the_ad id=”14294″]

Recognizing the unique reality of being a female in her position, Jaenson said that while she’s, “[there] to get to work, plain and simple- man, woman, or otherwise,” she does recognize the incredible opportunity to show young girls that a career in sports business is entirely possible, including at the highest level. The feedback and support the new GM has gotten has been incredible, with many reaching out personally or on social media to encourage the female trailblazer. In fact, while we were on the phone, Jaenson was contacted by the Girl Scouts to tell her what an inspiration she was.

Reno’s Mayor, Hillary L. Schieve, continued with the praise, lauding Jaenson for how personable and talented she is.

“What a wonderful person she is, and she’s also very dedicated to the community,..as the mayor of the city, I’m incredibly proud. It shows that females are breaking stereotypes and barriers all the time.”

Jaenson’s background is particularly well-suited for this opportunity. Her interest in and affinity for sports goes way back.

“I grew up with sports a common theme in my life…building a foundation in the love of competition.”

The sports junkie played soccer, basketball, cross-country, track, and as the middle child growing up with two brothers in a somewhat rural area outside Chicago, “athletics were our childhood.”

Jaenson went on to pursue a degree in advertising from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and was first hired by the Chicago Bulls in their ticket office. It was there that she got a thorough understanding of what lays at the foundation of the sports business.

“I cut my teeth in sales. That’s part of who I am,” said Jaenson, describing her first job in sports, “Grinding out 80+ calls a day…that made it apparent that ticket sales is the lifeblood of any sports organization.”

Want more content like this? Subscribe to our daily newsletter!

Growing up with sports, breaking into the business in sales, and learning the valuable lesson of the importance of ticket sales makes Jaenson an excellent fit for her new role.

She attributes her ability to break boundaries and rise to such a prominent position with the Aces to a Steve Martin quote that’s framed in her office and one that she adheres to. “‘Be so good they can’t ignore you.’ That quote is a thread of who I am, and what I bring to all jobs and endeavors…it’s the core of my being.”

With the Diamondbacks mostly responsible for the roster, Jaenson’s primary focus in her role is on the business operations side of the organization. As a member of the executive team, what Jaenson loves most about her new position is, “the ability to be a contributor- impacting everything from leadership to finances and communication. It’s the business that drives my enthusiasm and my drive really comes from the business of baseball.”

Like with everything she does, Jaenson strives to be the best, making the Reno Aces the best in the business almost by proxy.

“70 home games a year entertaining fans. Working behind the scenes to create a great experience for fans and for players who have worked their entire lives to get here…that’s our business,” Jaenson noted.  

That emphasis on entertainment is a major initiative and driving force behind her plans with the team; contributing to make the game more accessible, and sharing the opportunity to create lasting memories. “After all, that’s what it’s all about- making memories,” Jaenson pointed out.

That’s one of the particular advantages offered by Triple-A baseball. It’s about affordable fun for the whole family, with the entire emphasis on the consumer. Reno’s new GM mentioned that “not everybody that comes to Aces games is a baseball fan; it’s all about the entertainment and experience. Whether it be actually being keyed into the game, playing on the playground, taking in a beautiful sunset, or trying the food, drinks, and other fun things taking place at the ballpark.”

[the_ad id=”14294″]

Jaenson’s other main focus is being a positive contributor to the community, on both a personal level and for the Aces as a larger baseball organization. That trait is a major part of her personality, as she noted that, “good things come to those who work their tails off, keep in touch, and maintain giving relationships.”

Whether it be personally connecting others with job opportunities and acting as a “steward of her network,” or more broadly with the team by providing positive experiences, encouraging accessibility, and building strong relationships within the community, giving back is her personal mission.

As one of only two professional teams in the area, Jaenson’s goal for the Reno Aces is to be a proud pillar of the community, dedicated to “giving back, offering inclusive and engaging experiences at our ballpark…whether it be with the games, the three adjoining restaurants, or the outdoor stage providing a place to hold events and even recently hosting a wedding.”

Given her background, experience, and personality it’s evident that the Aces are going to be glad that when they called Jaenson to be their new GM, she said, “Let’s go!”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Red Sox Trade Rafael Devers to Giants in Shocker

Devers just signed a 10-year, $313.5 million extension in 2023.

MLB Balls Are ‘Different’ This Season, per Andrew McCutchen

Scoring is down a touch across the league this season.
Dec 5, 2024; Miami, FL, USA; FIFA president Gianni Infantino presents the FIFA Club World Cup trophy during the Club Word Cup draw at Telemundo Studios.

Revamped Club World Cup Is FIFA’s Billion-Dollar Gamble

The revamped soccer event debuts amid controversy.
Jun 10, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino stands during the anthem against the Switzerland during the first at Geodis Park

Gold Cup Is Complicated for USMNT—but U.S. Soccer Has Its Eyes on..

Uncertain tournament success isn’t fazing forward-looking U.S. soccer.

Featured Today

Jan 24, 2017; Davidson, NC, USA; The Davidson Wildcats student section cheers during the first half against the Duquesne Dukes at McKillop Court at John M. Belk Arena. Davidson defeated Duquesne 74-60.

Every College Wants a Flashy Basketball GM Hire Right Now

The role is more important than ever, and the definition is ever-evolving.
August 31, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; The Goodyear blimp flies over Ohio Stadium during the first half of Saturday’s NCAA Division I football game between the Akron Zips and the Ohio State Buckeyes.
June 6, 2025

Why the Goodyear Blimp Is at Every Major Sports Event

The airship wasn’t built to cover sports. Now it’s a regular presence.
May 27, 2015; Paris, France; Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (CRO) knocks the clay off her shoe during her match against Simona Halep (ROU) on day four of the French Open at Roland Garros
June 4, 2025

Roland-Garros’s Iconic Red-Clay Surface Is a Precise Alchemy

The exact science behind maintaining the French Open’s red clay.
Alex Jensen introductory press conference on Monday, March 17, 2025.
June 3, 2025

Alex Jensen Started Utah Utes HC Job While Still Coaching the Mavs

How Jensen began building an NCAA program while patrolling the Dallas sideline.
Sponsored

Temple Takes Your Sports Career to the Next Level

If you want to break through to the C-Suite , Temple University’s Executive Master of Science in Sport Business can help you up your game and accelerate your career. 
Sponsored

Networking With Purpose

Investing in the Ohio University PMSA unlocks access to one of the largest sports business alumni networks in the world.
Sponsored

University of San Francisco Is Your Ticket to the Game

Rated the No. 1 Sports Management program in California, USF has been a leader in educating industry professionals for more than 30 years.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Ted Leonsis unpacks basketball’s global rise, media rights, and portfolio ownership.
Sponsored

UMass, McCormack Department of Sport Management Introduce Groundbreaking Women in Business Course

UMass’s Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management has announced the addition of a Women in Business course launching Spring 2021.
Sponsored

Sacred Heart University Gives Athletes and Students Hands-On Learning Opportunities

Professor Matthew F. Moran is training the industry’s next generation of exercise scientists at Sacred Heart University.
Sponsored

Ohio University PMSA Prepares Sports Professionals For New Normal

Two alumni of the Ohio University Professional Master of Sports Administration explain how they feel prepared for the future of sports.
Sponsored

Temple’s Sports Business Master’s Program Gives a Sports Media Pro Unique Perspective

Temple’s School of Sport, Tourism & Hospitality Management gave Sean Hanrahan the tools to elevate his career even after 30 years in the business.