In 2017, I had the opportunity to intern for the Tampa Bay Rays in their Strategy and Development department. I worked there during the first semester of my junior year at Northeastern University (go Huskies!), from July through December.
How Did I Get the Internship?
Working for my favorite baseball team was not originally part of my college plan. I majored in Structural Engineering, and was at home for summer break when I noticed the Rays developed a website requesting fan input for their new ballpark. With a limited character count on the suggestions, I decided to jot down some of my own ideas for the stadium’s design and fan experience, and mail them to the head of the department. Within a couple months I received a call from the team and spoke to them about my ideas and the possibility of interning the following year.
What was my Role?
Without getting too detailed into my day-to-day, my role consisted primarily of the following:
- Researching and creating detailed reports for the new ballpark project
- Participating in meetings regarding the new ballpark project and other business activities
- Creating presentations and spreadsheets related to the new ballpark project, stadium concessions, broadcasting, and spring training
- Organizing and leading focus groups for Fox Sports Florida and the broadcast team
Some of my Favorite After Work Rays Related Activities:
Participating in the Employee Community Outreach Team (ECOT)
Once a month, the Rays hosted a community service event for the Front Office to volunteer. We created baskets for for a local food pantry, cleaned up an animal sanctuary, built a playground and more!
Playing on the Softball Team
The Rays have their own office softball league and there are a lot of very athletic front office members! A very competitive and fun summer activity. Despite getting a couple hits and one great catch, I realized I need to brush up on my old softball skills.
Running in the Mascot Race
I, and most of the other interns, had the pleasure of putting on a Pepsi costume and running during the mid-game mascot race. I did not win, but in my defense I was a little too short for the costume and couldn’t see! At least I didn’t fall over.
Now to Answer Some of Your Questions…
@JonAck21: Would love to know what kind of questions they asked you on your interview!
My interview was more of a conversation about what the position entailed (because I did not apply), if it aligned with my career goals (I was an engineering major), and how it would work logistically with the co-op program at Northeastern. We talked about different parts of my resume, some extracurricular activities, etc. I asked a bunch of questions.
@Alex_MurphyJour: As you’ve become more ingrained in the baseball community, would you change anything about what you did during your internship to gain more insight for what you’re doing now?
I don’t think I would change anything. I was so excited to be working there and knew I had to make the most of the experience. I really made an effort to be involved in office activities, and talk to / get to know members of all departments. From there I was able to learn about different roles and think about what I wanted to do moving forward.
The experience with the Rays is what’s gotten me to where I am today. After I left, I missed the involvement from the front office side of the sport and decided to start the blog to continue getting to know more people throughout baseball.
@AlisiaMorales19: how did you get internship with Rays? do you need degree ?
I got my internship a non-conventional way that I talked about at the beginning of this post, by writing them a letter. But they (and other teams) post available positions on a website called Teamwork Online. The traditional internships run from January through the end of the season. So you would need a college degree for those positions. It is very common in baseball to start out as an intern before being hired full-time. However, the Rays did offer some part-time and summer internships as well that did not require a degree.
@BaseballChaz: On the never ending debate of analytics vs intangibles, did your internship change your view/position on that? I.e. did it lead you to be more analytics minded or did you see things that made you think intangibles could be more important than you previously thought?
It definitely led me to become more analytics minded because throughout my internship I gained a better understanding of how important the data is to the game, as well as how to apply it effectively. That being said, I think the Rays have a really good way of mixing advancements in analytics with traditional scouting. I believe both are important for success.
@JulianGuilarte1: What was the most rewarding part about the experience?
Definitely working for an organization that I was so passionate about. Not only was I working for a Major League team, I was working for my favorite team. I woke up excited to go to work every day and really gave my maximum effort to do the job. Gaining an understanding of how the office is run and the people behind it really made me have a deeper appreciation for the organization as a whole.
@HerrLizzie: How did the internship shape your own career goals?
The internship opened up the door to a whole job market that I never thought I would be a part of. It really made me question whether I wanted to continue on with my major and re-evaluate my career path. Between my current full-time position and my blog I am getting the opportunity to experience both worlds, which is really incredible.
@BerkinJosh: Do baseball organizations only look for certain majors for internships or could I find a spot as a political science major? Also, what would be your advice to someone who wants to get a internship with a MLB team?
I would say it depends on what kind of position in the organization you are looking for, but as long as you have the necessary skills required for the position, it should be attainable with any degree.
My advice for someone looking for an internship is to network, start a relationship with teams, and research the team and position. It’s very competitive so keep an eye out for open positions. Make sure it’s something you’re genuinely interested in doing.
@BillyBowerman: What was your biggest takeaway from working there that may have come unexpectedly, based on your thoughts and presumptions of the position heading in?
I really had very little understanding of how a baseball front office was run, and really just an office in general, as this was my first full-time office internship. The thing that was most surprising to me was just how much it takes to contribute to organization – fan experience, social media, corporate sponsorships, stadium ops, community relations etc. Every department is vital to the overall success of the organization.
@theNRIpodcast: From your Rays internship, I’d love to hear any insight you can share on how they identify talent, draft, and develop talent so well. The depth in the organization is unreal, and they seem to “win” every trade they make.
I was not in Baseball Operations, so I was not provided any detailed information regarding how they identify talent and draft. But whatever they are doing, they are doing it very well. I did take a stab at what I believe their strategy to be in this article, based on research and closely following them over the years.
@tbayray1: Did you get a degree in analytics or is it self taught
My degree was in Structural Engineering, so while I do have a math background the baseball analytics is all self-taught.
@BThomps81: what was something you will never forget about the internship? / @Sirjerm88: what will you remember most about the experience
I will never forget how welcoming everyone was, from the first to the last day. The other members of the Strategy and Development department provided me so many opportunities to learn and really made me feel like part of the group. I am very thankful I had the chance to work and learn from them.
In terms of specific moments, there was one in particular that really stood out to me. I attended most of the games alone, as a lot of employees are required to work during games. I would sit by myself and keep score. Following one home game, the pitching coordinator approached me and told me he believed I was going places. That was the first time we spoke, and it really made me wonder whether I actually had a chance at one day being a more permanent member of the baseball community.
Thank you to everyone who submitted questions! I’m more than happy to answer any more that come up. Feel free to contact me on any of my social media accounts, or send me an email at scoutgirlreport@gmail.com.