West Virginia Black Bears GM Matt Drayer Resigns

Remember the West Virginia Black Bears? Going down to Morgantown on a Saturday night during the summer was the best. Since the NY Penn League was taken away and turned into a league for college prospects to showcase their talents previous to the draft, but one of the Pirates’ last ties to the franchise has now departed.

We bring the Black Bears up because long-time general manager Matt Drayer has resigned after 17 years in that position. A graduate from West Virginia University in 2000, Drayer would soon be named the GM of the Jammers in 2004 and also aided the idea for Monongalia County Ballpark for the Black Bears when they relocated.

Drayer began in 1999 as an intern for the Jamestown Jammers and oversaw the franchises’ move to Morgantown prior to the 2015 season as part of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ minor league system. The Black Bears left the Pirates’ organization as part of the reorganization of Minor League Baseball ahead of the 2020 season. The team continued in the MLB Draft League, where it hosts draft-eligible players in the summer leading up to and immediately after their selection in the MLB Draft.

Drayer will remain in Morgantown as he has accepted a position with a brand new startup company.

“I will forever cherish my time with Rich Baseball Operations and the many amazing days and nights at the ballpark with the great Black Bear fans of West Virginia,” said Drayer.