The world of MLB is no longer ‘inside baseball’ for this statistics student

Colleen Rich — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 17:44:01 +0000

The world of MLB is no longer ‘inside baseball’ for this statistics student Colleen Rich Mon, 12/09/2024 - 12:44

For Abby Finch, baseball is more than just a game. Growing up, she spent hours watching baseball with her dad. While her early years were spent playing soccer, a hip injury in high school redirected her passion for sports into career aspirations in baseball scouting.

George Mason statistics major Abby Finch took her ambitions to the next level by participating in Major League Baseball's Diversity Pipeline Scout Development Program in Glendale, Arizona. Photo provided

"I needed something team-related but couldn't be athletic anymore," Finch said. "That's when I began working as a student manager with my high school's baseball team."

This early experience provided a pathway for a career combining her love for sports and her analytical skills.

Out of high school, Finch chose to go to the University of Charleston in West Virginia, where she worked as the baseball team's director of analytics. However, when the head coach left, she decided to transfer to ��AV, a move the statistics major describes as one of her best decisions.

"I'm happy that I made the move to George Mason," said Finch. "I really wanted more, and [Patriots’ Head Baseball] Coach [Shawn] Camp has all this knowledge from playing at a high level that has helped me."

Finch's future in baseball analytics is bright as she approaches her graduation in May with a Bachelor of Science in Statistics from George Mason’s College of Engineering and Computing.

This October, Finch took her ambitions to the next level by participating in Major League Baseball's Diversity Pipeline Scout Development Program in Glendale, Arizona. Hearing about the MLB program just as the deadline was passing, Finch quickly jumped on the opportunity and applied to the program the same day. Soon after, Finch was accepted into the program, and less than a month later, she was in the air, flying to Glendale.

"I was nervous," Finch admitted, reflecting on hearing about the program's late application submission. "I didn't think I had a shot, but I guess they liked my resume." When she got the acceptance email, she immediately called her parents, Coach Camp, and her professors to coordinate missing classes for the program. Everyone supported her without hesitation, understanding the incredible opportunity the program represented.

The MLB Diversity Pipeline Scout Development Program was designed to provide women and people of color with the tools and knowledge to thrive in the male-dominated world of baseball scouting. For Finch, the experience was transformative. "It taught me that I'm not the only one trying to do this. It's not crazy or a pipe dream—it's achievable."

During the week-long program, Fitch participated in classroom sessions that covered the intricacies of scouting and writing professional scouting reports. She also put what she learned in the classroom into action, analyzing players at the Arizona Fall League games.

"We would scout two pitchers and a position player during the game and write scouting reports that included pitch velocity, swing path, and overall performance," she explained.

These scouting exercises culminated in a mock draft on the final day of the program, where participants selected players based on the quality of their scouting reports. This gave participants an opportunity to get a feel for a draft night situation and a real-life example of how impactful a scout's work is in a player's overall career success.

Finch came away from the program with a deeper understanding of the game and said that her view of the game has completely shifted. "Before, I could see things happening on the field but didn't always know what they meant. Now I can watch a swing or a pitch and understand its significance, good or bad, and how it impacts a player's development."

Entering her second season as director of analytics for the George Mason baseball program, Finch is already making a difference. Coach Camp credits her insights with giving the team a competitive edge, both offensively and defensively. "Abby's commitment to our program and her ability to provide analytics-based insights have been pivotal to the development of our players," Camp said. "Mason has provided her with a front-row seat to the game. She travels with us, and she's made the most of that opportunity by playing a critical role in helping our team grow and compete at a higher level."

Looking ahead, Finch has her sights set on working in a MLB player development department. Through the MLB scout development program, she built connections with women who hold roles she aspires to and even submitted her resume to all 30 MLB teams. "The program gave me invaluable experience," she said. "I'd encourage anyone with the opportunity to participate to go for it."

For Finch, the journey from high school student manager to MLB diversity program alumna proves that passion, persistence, and a willingness to learn can open doors in even the most competitive fields. Finch is ready to take a big swing with her eyes set on a career in professional baseball.

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The world of MLB is no longer ‘inside baseball’ for this statistics student

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