Introducing the "How to Land a Job in Baseball" Series

For quite some time I've taken a realistic approach to my career goals and have attempted to figure out just what consists of a successful baseball career. After a number of long discussions and time spent at ballparks I've realized that working in baseball operations for a major league club is easily one of the most coveted positions in the sport. Still, the first question that the title of this article should prompt is "Dave, what kind of job in baseball are you referring to?" Obtaining a well-respected position in the Astros Media Relations Department or getting named Nationals beat writer for the local paper is fantastic, and certainly a fine way to serve your career, but this series of upcoming posts are primarily geared to help one inch that much closer to a job in baseball operations for a major league club.

Before we get to the steps and accolades necessary to obtain such a job, let's talk about baseball operations as a whole. To keep things simple and straight-forward, organizational members of baseball operations handle all things necessary within their respective team with the goal of improving the major league team down the road. In performing their role, whether it be scouting, coaching or handling finances of certain players (and so on), these employees help facilitate each and every matter centered around the players and staff with the intent of enhancing the quality of the club. Such roles include being scout, hitting or pitching coordinator, supervisor, player development employee, special assistant to someone of a higher position and then the ever-popular role, the general manager (just to name a few).

The information I'll be providing isn't limited to improving the chances of my readers netting a job in baseball ops -- not in the least. As you can probably tell from my composition of these posts, I'm not exactly head of international scouting for a team. I'm just a blogger, but I feel that I've done enough work around baseball to at least have some confidence and knowledge for enabling myself to help people reach their baseball goals, whatever they may be. So, if you take the provided information and find yourself a job in media relations with say, the Lowell Spinners (which, although they are an affiliate of the Red Sox have no relation to the actual player development of the team) then kudos to you. However, most of my obtained knowledge over the past year or so is courtesy of front office and player development staff of major league clubs, so while I'm hopeful to eventually obtain a role in baseball operations my goal is to help you get there as well.

After speaking with front office members and thinking aplenty, I've realized that, though not in any particular order, there are five necessary steps for those with their eyes set on becoming a member of a major league club's baseball operations department. I'll be covering each step single-handedly in each of the next five articles of the series and, by the time the series is complete aspiring scouts and organizational members should have clearer picture of the road ahead. Additionally, I'll be shedding light on each position within baseball operations, so if you aren't totally sure of your exact goals this might benefit you. It's difficult and takes lots of hard work and dedication to become a member of baseball operations but it can certainly be done. Just about every front office member initially had dreams of working with a major league club and, realistically, that can one day be you.