FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Fort Wayne TinCaps announced today that Jennifer Sylvester has been named the club’s General Manager. Mike Nutter, who served as Fort Wayne’s President and General Manager since November 2008 and has been with the organization since 1999, will continue to serve as the team’s President.
Sylvester is the first female General Manager in Fort Wayne professional baseball history and the 16th active female General Manager in Minor League Baseball.
Sylvester, who enters her 13th season in Minor League Baseball in 2027, began her career with the TinCaps in January 2015 as an intern and later that year became a full-time group ticket sales representative. In 2020, she was promoted to Ticket and Corporate Account Manager. In 2023 Sylvester was promoted to Assistant Director of Corporate Partnerships. Originally from Romulus, Michigan, Sylvester graduated from Siena Heights University with a bachelor’s degree in Sport Management while playing softball for the Saints. In 2020, Sylvester earned her Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Ball State University.
“I’m honored and excited to be named General Manager of the Fort Wayne TinCaps, a role I take great pride in,” Sylvester said. “I have tremendous respect for the legacy we have built here—this organization’s deep roots in the community are the result of years of hard work and a true team effort. I am excited to work with Mike, our VPs, and our entire staff to continue our work in this region. My goal is to honor what’s been built while bringing fresh energy and experienced perspective to the role. At the end of the day, it’s about the people—our staff, our fans, and the City of Fort Wayne—and ensuring the TinCaps remain a source of pride for this community and continue to represent the very best across all of MiLB.”
Nutter, who has been with the team for 26 years, will continue to oversee the organization’s day-to-day operations with an emphasis on strategy, community involvement, and financial and operational performance. Among his duties will be creating a plan to improve Parkview Field and keep the ballpark state of the art for decades to come. Nutter will also continue managing relations with the San Diego Padres and serving on various community and baseball boards.
“I am very excited for Jenn and for the future of our organization,” Nutter said. “We have an outstanding group who continues to raise the bar. Jenn has done a phenomenal job in every role she has had in the organization and is very passionate about seeing us continue to succeed and improve. She is highly respected in the Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball community, and I think it’s fantastic that she’s the first female General Manager in Fort Wayne professional baseball history.”
Nutter added: “I’m not going anywhere! I am excited to help our great staff continue to grow, and Jenn’s promotion is a big part of that. She has earned it. With her, our VPs, and the rest of our amazing staff, the future is very bright for the Fort Wayne TinCaps. Our venue and front office staff have won as many awards as any team in our industry over the past 20 years, and we are looking to do so again in the next 20. I am proud of all we have accomplished here at Parkview Field, but I’m even more excited about the future. I expect the team to continue to ramp up our staffing in the coming months as we continue to work towards an incredible 2027 season and beyond.”
The Fort Wayne TinCaps, the High-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres, are owned and operated by Hardball Capital LLC under Chairman & CEO Jason Freier and have been since 2006. The TinCaps moved to Parkview Field in 2009 with the professional franchise getting ready for its 34th playing season in 2027.
“We are thrilled to have Jenn step into this historic role as the first female General Manager in Fort Wayne professional baseball,” Freier said. “I am excited for the entire team in Fort Wayne. It’s been an amazing 18 years at Parkview Field, and the success of our younger staff members adding to the great work done by Mike and his team only makes me more confident in and enthusiastic for the TinCaps’ future.”
Season tickets for the 2027 Fort Wayne TinCaps season are available now. Fans can once again purchase season ticket plans directly through TinCaps.com. Packages are flexible for fans, with options including 12 games, 17 games, a half-season, a full season, and even more customization.
Opening Day 2027 is set for Friday, April 2, as the ‘Caps take on the Athletics-affiliated Lansing Lugnuts. In 2027, the ‘Caps will be home for Opening Weekend (April 2-5), Jackie Robinson Day (April 15), and Father’s Day (June 20).
For prospective interviews and additional comments, please email Mike Nutter (nutter@tincaps.com) and Jenn Sylvester (jcsylvester@tincaps.com).