There are two things that I really love (aside from family, blah blah blah): beer and sports. And the one thing that has always made me happy during baseball season is drinking a wonderfully flavor-filled hoppy beverage at the stadium. So, when I heard that the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Class-A team was moving to Hillsboro, Oregon and being renamed “Hops”, I had to reach out.

The baseball winter meetings: the time when your team is built. When teams sign most free agents, when they make trades, and when they try to get a competitive team for Spring Training. It may not be the most popular opinion, but it’s my favorite time of the season. So, when I had the chance to speak to a bona fide General Manager of a baseball team (Class-A), it was something I couldn’t pass up. And one of a team named AFTER a part of my favorite adult drink?!

Enter K.L. Wombacher, Vice President and General Manager of the Hillsboro Hops, a Class-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks that just relocated from Yakima, Washington to Hillsboro, Oregon. With the team for the past 12 seasons – 8 of those as the General Manager – K.L. is getting set to open the Hops inaugural season in June. “My passion is putting on a great fan experience and seeing our players advance to the big leagues.”

I reached out to K.L. as any nerdy fan would to a baseball General Manager: a little pensive, worried that I would sound like a fool, and would never hear anything back. But K.L. is a great sport, responding quickly, and telling me about the team, and the excitement the new team (and name) has caused. “It’s been fun to see the excitement from the craft beer industry so far! People from all over the country emailing us and wanting to buy hats!” And (for the rest of you nerds) he worked me in around the winter meetings! “We had a great week [at the winter meetings]. I couldn’t believe how much buzz has come with our name and logo. Lots of teams were complimenting us which was great!”

Since he was such a great sport, and I loved talking with him, it became obvious that I needed to do a pseudo-5 Stupid Questions…so…I did. And here is the awesomeness that came out of it:

1. You are in the baseball world, what is your game day superstition

Wearing the same color polo on a winning streak. Doesn’t have to be the same polo, but has to be the same color.

2. Tshirt and jeans, or khakis and polo?

Game day- khakis/slacks and polo. off day- jeans and t-shirt

3. Why are softballs hard?

They shouldn’t be called softballs…

4. What 80’s character would you want to be?

“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” – hope that counts as 80’s (Editor’s note: It isn’t 80’s, but there is no way I am denying a man a Fresh Prince reference…)

5. Press play on your ipod, then hit forward twice. What song comes on, and why is it on there?

“Forgot about Dre” featuring Eminem- I love rap from the late 90’s. Dre and Eminem have always been my favorite.

I agree, softballs are a LIE!!!

Big thanks to K.L. and the Hillsboro Hops. You can guarantee that there will be an ACB contingent at a game or two this season.

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF THE HILLSBOUROUGH HOPS