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December 2, 2022
Major League Baseball (MLB) has announced a new career development program designed to prepare diverse, mid-level front-office professionals for advancement to senior baseball operations or on-field roles. “MLB University” will teach the skills necessary to succeed in a baseball operations department or on-field role and will provide ongoing mentorship and network opportunities.
“MLB University is going to be a critical component of our efforts to make sure that the talent at our middle executive levels receive both the training and industry mentorship that will put them into the best position for success in senior baseball operations or on-field roles,” said Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr.
The 10-month course is designed to identify high-ceiling diverse candidates and provide opportunities for training, exposure and access needed to advance their careers. It intends to create a deeper pipeline of diverse young talent for future baseball operations leadership roles.
Developed over the last several months, the initiative is being led by MLB Senior Vice President, On-Field Operations, Michael Hill. Each MLB club has nominated one non-senior-level professional from a diverse background to partake in the program. They will be joined by five members of the Buck O’Neil Professional Scouts & Coaches Association who have also been nominated.
The inaugural class participated in its first session of the program last month and moving forward will participate in semi-monthly online training sessions. Training will cover a full range of topics including roster management, player contracts, analytics, major and minor league operations, medical administration and more.
MLB University is the latest component of MLB’s efforts to improve the diversity and representation of baseball operations and on-field roles. Entry-level pipeline programs for minority and female candidates include the MLB Diversity Fellowship, Take The Field and the Diversity Pipeline Scouting & Coaching Development programs. Currently, 88% of all MLB Diversity Fellows have full-time employment within Baseball and 30 Take The Field participants have been hired by MLB or Major/Minor League Clubs. Additionally, the inaugural Scouting Development Program in 2021 led to 18 new hires and seven Club personnel receiving promotions into new roles.
The sessions will be run by various senior members of the League’s Baseball and On-Field Operations, Economics and Labor areas including senior-level MLB officials, Tony Reagins (MLB Chief Baseball Development Officer), Morgan Sword (MLB Executive Vice President, Baseball Operations), Theo Epstein (MLB Consultant), and Hill. This group along with Commissioner Manfred will meet with the MLB University members at the Baseball Winter Meetings in San Diego for a scheduled in-person training and networking reception.
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