Dan Duquette's Player Development course is a brilliant addition to the SMWW baseball operations family of courses. Dan's 4 decades in baseball, primarily as a GM, provide students insight into player development that is unparalleled. The two time Sporting News Executive of the Year's course is the perfect complement to the SMWW Baseball GM and Scouting Course with former Dodgers GM Dan Evans/former Dodgers Scout Hank Jones, and the Baseball Analytics Course with baseball savant Ari Kaplan. These courses together are a triple threat for anyone to have under their belt if they aspire to work in baseball!
Baseball Player Development FAQ
What is baseball player development?
Baseball player development is the work of coaching, training, and refining a player's skills after they've already joined an organization. Player Development is different from scouting, which is about finding and acquiring talent in the first place. It covers everything from mechanics and strategy to physical conditioning and mental preparation as a player moves through an organization's minor league system.
What jobs exist in baseball player development?
Player development roles exist across every level of the sport, Major League organizations, Minor League affiliates, college programs, high schools, and club teams all employ development staff. Learning from a former MLB General Manager gives students direct insight into how top organizations identify and shape talent for specific roles within their system.
I've already taken the Baseball GM & Scouting course is Player Development different?
Yes, the two courses cover different stages of a player's journey. GM & Scouting focuses on identifying and acquiring talent, while Player Development covers what happens after a player joins the organization. This includes pitching development, in-game tactics, player psychology, and how prospects progress through the minor league system. Many students take both courses as complementary training.
How does baseball player development relate to baseball analytics?
The two overlap but aren't the same thing. Analytics can highlight where a player is excelling or struggling in ways a coach might not immediately notice, making it a valuable tool for development staff. But player development also involves factors analytics doesn't fully capture, such as mental approach, culture fit, and other intangible qualities that shape a player's growth. Pairing analytics knowledge with player development training gives you a fuller picture of how to evaluate and coach a player.
Can Baseball Player Development be my first SMWW course?
Yes, no prior SMWW coursework is required. That said, pairing it with one or more of SMWW's other baseball courses like Baseball GM & Scouting, Baseball Analytics, or Baseball Agent, can round out your understanding of the sport's business side, and roughly a third of SMWW alumni go on to take multiple courses.
Does a player development role sit on the business side or the operations side of a team?
Player development sits on the operations side of a baseball organization. In this role, you'd typically work alongside coaches, players, and analytics staff, rather than with the team's business, sales, or marketing departments.
Do you have more questions?
Call the office and ask! 1-877-SMWW-Now in the US or Canada. In London at +44(0) 871 288 4799 Everywhere else at +1-503-445-7105