The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp announced Dec. 1 that Matt Goudreau, the team’s assistant general manager, has been promoted to president and general manager.
The triple-A baseball team also promoted Noel Blaha, its vice president of marketing and media, to senior vice president.
Goudreau replaces Harold Craw, who is leaving to become senior vice president of community engagement and social responsibility for the MLB Tampa Bay Rays.
Goudreau joined the Jumbo Shrimp in June 2021 as assistant general manager after stints at the University of Memphis, San Francisco 49ers, San Jose State University and Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton, the team said in a news release.
The team said Goudreau was at the forefront of renovations to VyStar Ballpark and managed the stadium’s operations team. He was the primary liaison to the coaching staff and MLB-affiliate Miami Marlins and has helped oversee the game day staff.
“Matt’s results-driven leadership success during major ballpark renovations, combined with his overall management style will ensure the Jumbo Shrimp’s continued success moving forward,” Jumbo Shrimp owner and CEO Ken Babby said in a news release. “Over the last four seasons Matt has been with the organization, he has played a significant role not only operationally but also with our sales department helping create strong partnerships and shown continued growth.”
Blaha joined the Jacksonville club in 2015 as assistant general manager and was named vice president of marketing and media before the 2022 season.
Blaha oversees all club marketing efforts, the merchandise department and communications department, while previously overseeing the promotions department and managing the game day events staff.
He also plays a role within the sales department, helping secure the first naming rights agreement for the club in 2020 and managing key partnerships.
“Noel has been a key member of our leadership team since arriving in Jacksonville 10 years ago and I am proud to announce his promotion to senior vice president,” Babby said. “He has been instrumental in our marketing success which can be seen in the passion he brings to creating a top quality and fun environment in all areas of the Jumbo Shrimp brand.”
The moves come after the sale of the Rays to an ownership group led by Dream Finders Homes founder CEO Patrick Zalupski. Also part of the group was Ken Babby, founder and CEO of Fast Forward Sports Group.
Fast Forward owns the Jumbo Shrimp, the affiliate of the MLB Miami Marlins, and the Akron RubberDucks, the double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. Babby is now CEO of the Rays.
The Jumbo Shrimp won the 2025 International League championship.
Craw joined the Jacksonville club in 2015 as general manager. In 2017, he helped rebrand the Suns to the Jumbo Shrimp and was named Southern League Executive of the Year.
”While the Jumbo Shrimp captured championships on the field this season, we’ve also been fortunate to have our organization led off the field by championship-caliber executives,” Babby said. “I am thrilled for Harold to realize a career dream of working in Major League Baseball after a highly successful tenure at all levels of Minor League Baseball. Harold’s legacy in Jacksonville will long be impactful, and we are grateful for his decade of leadership here. He successfully took the organization to new heights through the award-winning rebrand to the Jumbo Shrimp, serving the community during the pandemic, and transitioning from the Double-A to the Triple-A level, all capped off with a championship season in 2025.”