Baseball Analytics FAQ

Understanding Careers in Baseball Analytics

 What are baseball analytics?

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about this Course!

Baseball analytics is the use of data, technology, and statistical analysis to evaluate players and guide decisions about scouting, development, and strategy. It builds on sabermetrics and now includes tools that measure everything from swing mechanics to pitch movement.

 What software and technology do MLB teams use for baseball analytics?

MLB organizations use tools such as Rapsodo, Trackman, Blast Motion, K Vest, Edgertronic video, Kinetrax, Statcast, and Baseball Info Solutions data. SMWW’s Baseball Analytics course introduces you to these technologies, and your mentor, Ari Kaplan, occasionally brings in guest speakers from the software companies.

 Do I need to work for an MLB team to take the Baseball Analytics course?

No. Many MLB employees take the course to advance their careers, but you do not need to work for a baseball team. You need a love of baseball and a hunger to learn. When you log into the weekly Zoom sessions, you join classmates from across the baseball world, which helps you build your network.

 I am a traditional scout. Will baseball analytics be too difficult for me?

No, and many veteran scouts have made the shift. Carl Moesche scouted for more than thirty years before taking SMWW’s Baseball Analytics course in 2017, and the Red Sox hired him as a scout that same year. He credits the course with making his evaluations more open minded and with teaching him to back up what he sees with statistical data. The course is designed to add analytics to traditional scouting, not replace it.

 Do I need a math or computer science degree to learn baseball analytics?

No. SMWW’s sport specific analytics courses focus on how analytics is used by every role in an organization, from the general manager to the scouts. They include a high level overview of data management, visualization, collecting data, and working with vendors, so they are accessible to fans, coaches, and scouts as well as analysts.

 Should I take Baseball Analytics or Sports Analytics?

Take both if you can. SMWW offers five sport specific analytics courses, in baseball, hockey, soccer, football, and basketball, plus Sports Analytics and AI. The sport specific courses show how analytics is used across a baseball organization, while Sports Analytics and AI goes deeper into the technical skills used across all sports, including R, SQL, Python, and data visualization.

 How else can I break into the baseball world?

Becoming a sports agent is one proven route. Jeff Moorad, the former Arizona Diamondbacks CEO, started as a baseball agent and worked his way into the front office. SMWW’s Baseball Agent course is a good option for people with families or jobs who cannot afford to leave their current work.

About the SMWW Baseball Analytics Course

 Will the Baseball Analytics course help me get a job in baseball?

It can help, though no course can guarantee a job. For eight weeks you speak live with Ari Kaplan, Dr. Lynn Lashbrook, and classmates who are also pursuing baseball careers, and you learn the techniques that Major and Minor League teams look for in new hires. The knowledge and contacts you gain can be what separates you from other candidates.

 Do I really get to talk to Ari Kaplan every week?

Yes. Ari Kaplan leads a one hour live video chat each week throughout the eight week course. Dr. Lashbrook also leads a weekly one hour live audio chat on job strategies with students from all SMWW courses. If you miss a session, it is archived so you can listen whenever it is convenient.

 Who takes the Baseball Analytics course?​

Students include scouts, coaches, players, and front office staff. Past students have included San Francisco Giants associate scout Michael Hemenway, Troy Steffy of Pro Baseball Training, and former MLB manager Mike Matheny, who has been held up as an example of a lifelong learner.

What other sports analytics courses does SMWW offer?

SMWW offers analytics courses in baseball, basketball, football, hockey, and soccer, plus Sports Analytics and AI. You can compare all of them on SMWW’s sports analytics page.

What kind of network does SMWW have in sports?

SMWW has more than 30,000 alumni in 163 countries, and your instructors’ professional contacts are a major part of what you can tap into. Hiring executives recognize SMWW on a resume, and the references you gain from your mentors can open doors.

What if I need one-on-one assistance?​

SMWW staff are available by phone throughout the course for one on one help with coursework, live sessions, or career questions. Call 1 877 SMWW NOW in the United States and Canada, +44 0 871 288 4799 in the United Kingdom, or +1 503 445 7105 from anywhere else. Our offices are in Portland, Oregon, and London, England.

 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