Sonoma Stompers thriving with young GM
Under the front office leadership of President and General Manager Eduardo (Eddie) Mora-Loera, and coached by veteran Field Manager Zack Pace, the Sonoma Stompers will play in the Northern California Collegiate League playoffs at the end of July.
This year’s roster includes players from University of Hawaii, University of Nevada, Yale, UC Davis, Cal State Fullerton, St. Mary’s, and other schools, including community colleges.
Mora-Loera, 31, whose own pursuit of a career in baseball ended with our local team, was drafted by Managing Partner Jon Sebastiani into the Front Office at the end of the 2019 season. He describes his move into the front office as “a mixture of timing, luck, my passion for baseball, and the Sonoma community.”
In 2022 Mora-Loera oversaw the transition of the Stompers from the professional Pacific League to the CCL, a move that brought to the team undergrad players from universities and colleges, including Division 1 schools, across the state and around the country. The young GM affirms player development is at the heart of the CCL, as these young athletes prepare for pro-ball, and a possible chance at “the show.” Mora-Loera actively works with the players off the field, teaching and mentoring them with “life lessons.” He adds, “Since baseball is such a mental game, a game where even the best fail more often than succeed, it is critical for teammates to support each other.”
“The biggest challenge of 2022 was to stabilize the finances, to make a budget we can plan for. Last year saw a 140% increase in season ticket holders, group events grew from 40% to 65%, and single game ticket sales are up 25%.”
Always interested in working with youth, Mora-Loera has created an internship program, now in its third year, that introduces college students to all the aspects of running a pro sports organization. This year’s interns, hailing from Purdue, Syracuse, Boston University and Sonoma State, have gained experience in the areas of marketing, data analytics, broadcasting, public relations and sports management. Mora-Loera views the program as a great platform to acquire genuine sports experience.
Stompers games at Arnold Field always include a ceremonial first pitch, games for children in between the innings, and birthday shoutouts. Coming soon is something for Stompers fans that Mora-Loera is excited to introduce: followers will have the opportunity to enjoy an interactive component when they tune in from home to the games.
Eddie’s dream of a career in baseball led him to turn down a job offer from General Dynamics after graduation with an engineering degree. But the first-generation college grad, who grew up in East Oakland, has followed a different path to a baseball career. In the spring of 2025 he will receive his MBA from the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley, in a program for working professionals. A Haas School dean noted that Mora-Loera is their first student from the professional sports industry. Eddie says he has loved his Berkeley experience, and adds, “pursuing my MBA has given me the opportunity to continue to grow the Stompers. Long-term my goal is to make sure the team is entrenched in the community, a consistent staple in Sonoma.”
See 2022 Sun interview with Eddie Mora-Loera:
https://sonomasun.com/2022/06/02/under-the-sun-eduardo-mora-loera-sonoma-stompers-general-manager/
By Anna Pier
