By Mike Warren

Contributing Editor

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – At this time one year ago, we were reporting the hiring of Chloe de Vries as the fourth general manager of the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters.

A year removed from that announcement, de Vries is now following a dream to work in Big-League baseball in the Big Apple.

She has been hired as promotions & special events coordinator for Major League Baseball’s New York Mets.

“This definitely has been a goal of mine since I was five years old,” de Vries said on Jan. 18, her second day on the job, “to work in baseball at the Major League level in New York City.”

Originally from Seattle, WA, de Vries, 24, has been a baseball fan for as long as she can remember.

“I grew up just loving baseball, and listening to it on the radio growing up, and just kind of dedicated my life to working in baseball,” she recalled.

After going through five rounds of interviews with the Mets, de Vries finally landed the job.

“I just saw it one day and thought I’d throw my name in the pot and the next thing you know I was moving to New York,” she added.

And while she is excited about moving up to the major league level, de Vries is thankful for the time she had with the Rafters.

“I wouldn’t be anywhere today without the Rafters,” she said. “They started me out when I was 18 years old and got me to where I am today, so I am forever grateful for them.”

During her time in Wisconsin Rapids, de Vries first worked as a marketing intern and on-field emcee before becoming director of marketing and public relations, followed by one year as general manager.

De Vries graduated from Chapman University in the spring of 2020 with a degree in communication studies and minor in broadcast journalism.

During her time at Chapman, she interned with the Los Angeles Clippers for two seasons in the public relations department.

De Vries served as the seasonal marketing manager for the 2020 Rafters season before
assuming the role of the marketing and public relations manager heading into 2021.

After the season, she returned to her alma mater as the assistant sports information director before accepting the general manager position with the Rafters in January 2022.

As for Chloe’s replacement, the Rafters were still interviewing potential candidates at last word.