My name is Arnulfo Gonzalez, international student at Capital University from the Dominican Republic. I’m also a junior and play for the baseball team. I’m currently majoring in Business Management and minoring in the Sport Business program led by Dr. Justin Kozubal.
A few weeks ago, I was grateful to participate in the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) 52nd Convention in Minneapolis, Minn. I was one of the six winners of the Nanar and Anthony Yoseloff Foundation scholarship. This experience would not have been possible without the help of my professors, Dr. Keirsten Moore and Dr. Justin Kozubal.
During the opening ceremony, I had the opportunity to meet Tyrone Brooks, who works for Major League Baseball as the director of the Diversity Pipeline Program at MLB. I also had a great conversation with Dan Evans, who served as the Los Angeles Dodgers GM in the past.
During the convention, Brooks took the scholars on a tour to Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins, where we were introduced to the Twins front office staff. The same day, SABR took all the attendees to CHS Field in St. Paul, Minn., to enjoy a minor league game between the Columbus Clippers and the St. Paul Saints. The next day, we all went back to Target Field, this time to watch the game between the Cleveland Guardians against Twins. I also have to mention that I had a great conversation with the Twins CEO and President, Dave St. Peter, after his presentation at the convention.
My favorite part of the convention was attending the panels. The panels that I enjoyed the most were the Twins Hitters panel led by Hall of Famers Rod Carew and Tony Oliva, the Twins Pitchers panel with the great players Jim Kaat, Bert Blyleven, Glen Perkins and LaTroy Hawkins. Another session that I found interesting was about the integration of advanced analytics in modern baseball, the panelists were Josh Kalk, Thad Levine, Jeremy Raadt and Josh Ruffin, all of them part of the Minnesota Twins front office staff.
One of the most enriching parts of the convention was the opportunity to meet and interact with other attendees. Whether it was during a casual conversation in the hallways or at one of the many networking events. I met historians who had devoted their lives to uncovering the forgotten stories of baseball's past, statisticians pushing the boundaries of sabermetric research, and fellow fans who simply loved talking about the game. These interactions were a reminder of the power of baseball to bring people together, regardless of background or expertise.
Attending the SABR Convention will significantly improve my present and future baseball study pursuits. The convention provided me numerous benefits, ranging from social opportunities and knowledge sharing to access to keynote speakers and teamwork, all of which could significantly boost my understanding of the game and the quality of my research contributions. This event also provided me the knowledge, connections, and inspiration that will allow me to refine my research objectives, build stronger procedures, and generate higher quality, meaningful studies.
Attending the convention in Minneapolis was a dream come true for any baseball aficionado. As I left Minneapolis, I reflected on the convention as a whole. SABR 52 was more than just a gathering of baseball enthusiasts; it was a celebration of the game's past, present, and future. The knowledge I gained, the connections I made, and the memories I created will stay with me for a lifetime. For anyone who loves baseball, attending a SABR convention is an experience that truly encapsulates the spirit of the sport.
To learn more about Business Management at Capital, visit http://rh8.lmjrsygc.com/academics/majors-and-minors/business-management/.