Baseball Career Conference — MLB Winter Meetings* in Orlando

2025 SMWW Baseball Career Conference
Orlando, Florida
December 7-9, 2025

Meet and learn from the people who build baseball: GMs, scouts, agents, player personnel executives, analysts, media, and team operators. In one action‑packed program alongside the MLB Winter Meetings in Orlando,*, you’ll discover how to enter and advance in MLB, MiLB, and collegiate baseball.

*SMWW’s Career Conference is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to MLB, Minor League Baseball, or the Baseball Winter Meetings.

At‑a‑Glance

• Dates: Sunday–Tuesday, December 7–9, 2025

• City: Orlando, Florida (near the Baseball Winter Meetings sites*)

• Main Venue (Mon): Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek
  14651 Chelonia Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32821

• Format: Panels, Q&A, case studies, welcome reception, networking lunch, and evening networking

• Who attends: Aspiring & current baseball executives, scouts, analysts, agents, media, operations, students & career‑switchers

• Capacity: Limited (first 120 registrants)

Why Attend

If you work in baseball—or want to—this is a must‑attend. You’ll:

• Network directly with decision‑makers from MLB, MiLB, collegiate programs, agencies, and media

• Get hiring insight: who’s building staffs, what skills they value, and how to position yourself

• Learn scouting, analytics, player development, media & PR, ops, NIL, and contract/roster fundamentals

• Practice career strategies that open doors (portfolio, outreach, interviews, LinkedIn)

• Leave with actionable next steps and new contacts

“The best learning experience of the year for understanding how the entire sports market works.” — Ari Kaplan, long‑time baseball analytics leader

What Are the Baseball Winter Meetings?*

Every December, representatives from all 30 MLB clubs and 120 MiLB affiliates gather at the Baseball Winter Meetings* to conduct league business, trades, transactions, and industry meetings. Executives, owners, GMs, scouts, media, vendors, and international delegates attend.
SMWW’s Career Conference runs adjacent to the festivities and gives you access to experts and networking even though the official Winter Meetings programming itself is not open to the public.

SMWW’s Career Conference is not affiliated with MLB, Minor League Baseball, or the Baseball Winter Meetings.

Program Overview

A full day of panels and Q&A with time purposely carved out for person‑to‑person networking.

Topics you can expect:

• Scouting & Player Development: evaluation frameworks, tools, and pathways

• Analytics & AI: how teams merge data, biomechanics, and on‑field decision‑making

• Front Office & Ops: roster construction, contracts, budgeting, and logistics

• Media, PR & Content: storytelling, digital, podcasting, beat reporting, and broadcast

• Agency & Representation: talent identification, client service, and negotiations

• Career Strategy: resumes that resonate, portfolio building, and breaking in

2025 Schedule (Subject to change)

Sunday, December 7 (Welcome Day)
6:00–8:00 pm — Welcome Reception (location TBA)
Meet speakers, SMWW mentors, and fellow attendees; pick up credentials.

Monday, December 8 (Conference Day) — Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek
8:00 am — Registration opens
8:45 am — Opening remarks
9:00 am – 5:00 pm — Panels & Q&A (scouting, analytics/AI, media, agency, front office, career strategy)
12:15 pm — Networking Lunch (included)

Monday Night, December 8 (Industry Networking) — Waldorf Astoria Orlando, — a popular gathering spot during MLB Winter Meetings* week.
7:00 pm – late — Legendary lobby networking with the who’s who of baseball

Tuesday, December 9 (Optional)
8:00 am – 12:00 pm — Baseball Industry Network Meet‑Up (Recommended for job hunters)

Final panel lineup is announced the week prior to accommodate team meetings and travel. Speakers are subject to change.

Who Should Attend

Anyone 18+ (17 with SMWW approval & an adult) who works—or wants to work—on the business side of baseball:
Executives, ops, scouts, analysts, agents, media & content, PR/marketing, equipment/tech vendors, collegiate & MiLB staff, former players transitioning to front office, and career‑switchers.

Registration & Pricing

Limited to the first 120 attendees. Walk‑ups are not accepted.

General Admission: $500 $350 (Early‑Bird)
College Students, Faculty & SMWW Alumni: $500 $325 (Early‑Bird)
Team & Agency Employees: $500 $350 (Early‑Bird)

Your Registration Includes:

• Name badge & credentials

• Registration packet

• Access to all Monday sessions

• Networking Lunch (Mon) — included

• Sunday Welcome Reception — included

Travel and lodging are not included.

Past & Featured Speakers

Past & Featured Speakers

Speakers vary year-to-year and are confirmed close to the event. Our stage regularly features our SMWW Mentors: Dan Evans (former Dodgers GM), Dan Duquette (3× MLB GM of the Year), Ari Kaplan (analytics leader), Hank Jones (former Dodgers scout), and Oscar Suarez (MLB agent)—plus a rotating cast of front-office leaders and on-field managers. Past and featured voices include Dave Roberts (Dodgers Manager), Mike Matheny (Royals Manager), Dayton Moore (Royals GM), Ned Colletti (Dodgers GM), Pat Gillick (Hall of Fame GM), John Mozeliak (Cardinals GM), Stan Kasten (Dodgers President), Jayson Stark & Tyler Kepner (The Athletic), De Jon Watson (Astros), Manny Colón (A’s), Tony DeMacio (Braves), Bobby Evans (Giants), and Cory Schwartz (MLBAM).

2025 speakers will be posted as confirmations occur.

Venue & Travel

Main Conference Venue (Mon):
Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek
14651 Chelonia Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32821

Closest Airport: Orlando International Airport (MCO)

Evening Networking: Waldorf Astoria Orlando (lobby)

Don't Go Without Support

Every year we see talented people lost in the Baseball Winter Meetings lobby—unsure who to approach, when to speak up, or how to follow through. We fix that.
At SMWW’s conference, you’ll get step-by-step coaching on how to work the lobby like a pro—so you save time, money, and awkward misfires.

You’ll learn how to:

• Open conversations (without being awkward or pushy)

• Read the room, join groups, and time your approach

• Ask smart questions that lead to next steps

• Swap info the right way and follow up so you’re remembered

• Support each other—our attendees look out for one another

Scholarships

SMWW awards a limited number of full and partial scholarships for each Career Conference.
To be considered (18+), email StudentServices@smww.com with:

• Your resume

• A one‑page letter explaining why you should receive a scholarship

Scholarships do not include lodging or airfare. Preference given to graduates of SMWW training programs.

TAKE THE FIRST STEP

Learn More About Attending This Conference Learn More About Attending
This Conference

Fill out the form below and an SMWW Career Counselor will follow up directly with you.

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Text me with news and offers

CONNECT WITH A CAREER COUNSELOR

The SMWW Team will contact you
within two business days.

2024 Featured Speakers
*Speakers are subject to change.

 
De Jon Watson
Houston Astros Special Assignment Scout
 
Jayson Stark
The Athletic, Senior Writer MLB
 
Dan Hessling
Texas Rangers SVP, Ticket Sales
 
Russ Kerschen
Texas Rangers, Manager of Premium Sales
 
Manny Colon
Oakland A's Director of Minor League Operations
 
Jim Duquette
Former MLB General Manager
 
Taylor Jacobson
MLB Agent
 
Tyler Kepner
The Athletic, Senior Writer MLB
 
Larry Lundy
LMG President/Founder
 
Scott Bush
SABR Chief Executive Officer
     
Dan Evans
Former LA Dodgers GM & former Toronto Blue Jays Scout
 
Hank Jones
Former LA Dodgers Scout
 
Ari Kaplan
Scoutables Founder & Baseball Analytics Leader
 
Oscar Suarez
MLBPA Agent, SMWW Faculty
 
Dan Duquette
Former Baltimore Orioles General Manager
 
Lynn Lashbrook
President & Founder of SMWW. Certified Sports Agent. Former NCAA Athletic Director.

Past Speakers

Speakers vary from year to year:

More about the Baseball Winter Meetings*

For those of you who have never experienced the Baseball Winter Meetings*, it is fascinating!  This event is the major baseball event of the year. GMs, player agents, executives, managers, and yes, a few players all attend. It's an event worth attending if you are looking to network, and report on the signings and trades that go down, or for fans to feel the energy and excitement. Where else can you have Tommy Lasorda, Bill James, Mike Rizzo, Scott Boras, Bob DuPuy, Billy Beane, Harold Reynolds, Lynn Lashbrook, Dan Evans, and Bobby Cox all within 20 feet of each other? (As reported by Maury Brown) There are also trainers, scouts, media, reps from the leagues, ESPN, Baseball America, MLB Network, MLB.com...it is a plethora of baseball who's who. Attending the SMWW Baseball Conference and walking around will be enough for most of you. 
_{*Note: SMWW's Career Conference is not affiliated or in any way connected with MLB, Minor League Baseball, or the Baseball Winter Meetings.} 

Internships

SMWW offers sports internship opportunities throughout the year in both our Portland, Oregon, and Gloucester, England offices. Visit this page for more information. SMWW conducts interviews at SMWW Career Conferences.

Download a Copy of the
2022 Baseball Program Here

Note: Speakers are not guaranteed and will change. The closer we get to the date, the more speakers will know their team meeting schedules.