Originally published in Carroll Capital, the print publication of the Carroll School of Management at Boston College. .
With something so steeped in American culture as baseball, it鈥檚 easy to forget that the sport is also a business. 鈥淛ust like with any business, you always have your consumer in mind,鈥� says Joe Martinez 鈥�05. 鈥淲e need fans to pay to watch, come to games, and buy merchandise.鈥�
Joe Martinez '05
Martinez, the vice president of on-field strategy for Major League Baseball, spent a decade playing baseball professionally鈥攅ven earning a World Series ring with the San Francisco Giants鈥攂efore trading his jersey for a suit and entering the consulting industry, first at Morgan Stanley and then PwC. Martinez says it was a desire to up his professional game that made him take the leap, a risky move that paid off when the MLB came calling again in 2020.
These days, part of his role revolves around implementing new league rules鈥攍ike the introduction of a pitch clock鈥攖o improve gameplay and fan experience. While the MLB wants to ensure fans see a great game, 鈥測ou don't want to make it too difficult for our players to do what makes them great,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 have a unique perspective,鈥� the former relief pitcher says of his experience on and off the field. 鈥淚 consider myself very fortunate to be able to keep structuring my life around the game I love.鈥�
