🏆 Career Insights: Building a Career in the MLB

A Journey Through Sports

Jake’s love for baseball started early in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he was a part of two state championship teams, which led him to play at the University of Redlands in Southern California. Despite being cut from the middle school team twice and receiving very little playing time in high school, Jake found a way to play in college. However, his playing career was cut short after a torn rotator cuff during his sophomore year. With his time on the field over, Jake shifted focus, graduating in just three years and diving into multiple internships and networking. A pivotal moment came when he connected with Fred Claire, former GM of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who became a key mentor and sparked Jake's interest in the sports business. From there, Jake took every opportunity to learn. While taking 23 credits to finish college early, he juggled internships and informational interviews, soaking up knowledge wherever possible. The hustle shaped the foundation of his career.

Jake later attended Ohio University for graduate school and could play baseball one more year after 15 months of rehabbing and reinventing himself by adopting a submarine pitching style. While at Ohio, he earned two master’s degrees in sports science and sports administration. His first post-grad role was with the Seattle Mariners, where he initially aimed to work on the player side of baseball. Over time, his interest shifted to the business side of sports, with stops at the Arizona Fall League, Learfield, and the PGA TOUR. After moving for school and various roles, Jake returned to Arizona, joining the Arizona Coyotes' sponsorship sales team before eventually transitioning to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

A Creator and Builder at Heart

For Jake, work isn't just about the job title or the company’s logo. His true motivation comes from being a creator and builder. Jake notes that getting caught up in the allure of working for a prestigious company with a well-known logo is easy, but that’s not what drives him. “You have to lift up the hood and understand your identity, why you do the work you're doing, and what matters most to you." Sports, for Jake, offer life lessons and unite people for a greater cause. It’s bigger than entertainment, creating memories for generations. While many are drawn to the industry by ego or fandom, Jake focuses on the business side and his passion for building—whether it’s projects at work or personal ventures like his podcast and books. “I’ve always been creating or building something,” he reflects. This mindset keeps him excited about finding new ways to innovate. He believes that learning something new every day and meeting new people regularly are keys to growth, helping him understand other areas of the industry and connect the dots others might miss.

Coaching Insights and Traits Leading to Success

Jake believes success in sports, or any industry, comes down to a few key traits. The first is building strong relationships. "People do business with those they like and trust," he says, emphasizing the importance of integrity, teamwork, and going the extra mile for others. For Jake, hard work isn’t just about long hours, but also about using your time effectively and efficiently. Everyone has 24 hours in a day, it’s just a matter of whether or not you can be more productive with your 24 hours than someone else.

When advising students or professionals in the industry on securing an internship or job, Jake emphasizes three essential qualities: curiosity, creativity and perseverance. Curiosity is about being prepared and asking really good questions. He recalls receiving a note from a candidate who got an internship working for a guest that had been on his podcast. They mentioned how much listening to the podcast episode helped them prepare for their interview. That level of curiosity and effort impressed the hiring manager when they referenced the episode. Creativity is about thinking outside the box and not being confined by how things have always been done. Change is a constant, and those willing to adapt and take risks will find the most success and growth. Jake says, “I’ve had to persevere through many challenges, rejection, and moments of adversity to get to where I am today and if I didn’t fail more than I’ve succeeded, I wouldn’t be the person I am.” He believes this trait and skill is often overlooked or undervalued.

Jake's advice to those entering the sports industry is making every decision the right decision. It is a lesson he learned from Doc Higgins at Ohio University that has stuck with him throughout his career. Whether the decision you make turns out right or wrong is ultimately up to the individual. Work to make every decision the right decision. He also urges people to enjoy the process and journey. While it's important to be forward-thinking, it's just as vital to appreciate where you are in the moment. His parting words of wisdom: “Always be networking, and never stop learning.”

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