Anthony Oppermann is the general manager of the Richmond Flying Squirrels, the team announced Monday.

Oppermann takes over as the team prepares for its final season at The Diamond before moving to CarMax Park in 2026.

He replaces Ben Rothrock, who has served as general manager since 2017 and chief operating officer since 2023. Rothrock will remain COO focusing on the construction of CarMax Park while Oppermann oversees the club’s day-to-day operations.

“It’s natural that Anthony Oppermann should become the third GM in Richmond Flying Squirrels history. Flying Squirrels Managing Partner Lou DiBella said. “Opp has been an integral part of what we do and has earned this exciting opportunity.”

Oppermann, a member of the Flying Squirrels’ original staff, is in his third stint with the club. He returned in 2023 as an assistant general manager before serving as chief marketing officer last season.

“I still vividly remember the ‘Baseball is Back’ press conference on Sept. 23, 2009, which was the first event I worked as a member of the Flying Squirrels,” Oppermann said. “The gravity of this moment is not lost on me and I look forward to working with Lou and our ownership group, my teammates and our community and corporate partners to make Richmond the new standard for our industry.”

A native of La Grange, Texas, Oppermann joined the team in 2009 as director of media and was part of its original broadcast team through 2012. He later returned to Richmond as executive director of marketing and promotions from 2017 to 2021. He has spent parts of 15 seasons in professional baseball with experience at Round Rock, Daytona, Potomac, Reading and Houston. Before rejoining the Flying Squirrels in 2023, he was communications and marketing manager for the Galveston Bay Foundation in Texas.

The Flying Squirrels open their final season at The Diamond on Friday against the Akron RubberDucks, with the first pitch set for 6:35 p.m. Hall of Famer and former Richmond Braves pitcher John Smoltz will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Tickets for all 2025 Flying Squirrels games are on sale at SquirrelsBaseball.com/tickets.