Brett Bloomquist

The Wilmington Sharks baseball team named Brett Bloomquist as general manager, Chris Murphy as director of operations and Ani Gerics as director of ticket sales.

Bloomquist returns to the team he played for in 2008 as a left-handed pitcher, according to a news release. Since his time with the Sharks, he earned degrees from Appalachian State University and the University of Florida.  His diverse professional background includes a distinguished 12-year career as an intelligence officer in the United States Navy, a consultant at a Big Four firm and various leadership positions across multiple industries.

Bloomquist stated in the release, “I look forward to using my experiences as a player and in management to continue the growth of the Sharks throughout the Cape Fear region.”

Murphy comes to the Sharks with a background spanning 23 years in the hospitality industry. He has extensive experience with live events, restaurants, catering and nonprofits, the release stated.

A UNCW graduate, Gerics joins the Sharks after a tenure in ticket services with the NHL Nashville Predators.

In the fall, the Sharks announced the return of field manager Russ Burroughs to manage the Sharks for his fourth consecutive season.

Last season, under Burroughs direction, the Sharks reached the Coastal Plain League playoffs for the first time since 2017 and won the CPL Eastern Division Championship.  He led the Sharks to top six finishes in the 15-team CPL in 2021, 2022 and 2023.  Thirteen former Sharks recruited by Burroughs have signed with Major League Baseball organizations to play pro ball.