LinkedIn is for MLB Bat Boys and College Students Too

How many college students are you connected to on LinkedIn? One, two? More than 10? More than that? I’ll circle back to this question in a minute. I’m betting not too many.

A Famous Bat Boy

As a baseball enthusiast, I enjoy a great story well beyond the box score. Luis “Squeegee” Castillo’s favorite memory as a New York Yankees batboy is more than a feel-good story.

In a recent blog post, he shares how he played catch during a rain delay with a pitcher who would hurl a perfect game later that evening. Epic. Not just for David Cone, but for Castillo too.

What’s the kneejerk reaction for a relentless analyst who reads a story like that, enjoys baseball, and knows his way around LinkedIn? Call it crazy, but I was curious if there were any bat boys here on LinkedIn. Accordingly, I did a quick search on this platform.

Pay dirt. Oops, wrong sport.

Mark Gandy, Meet Cole DeVos

After reading about Castillo, I randomly selected Cole DeVos stemming from my search above.

Cole is not just a Bat Boy and Stadium Attendant for the San Diego Padres. He’s a full-time student (as of 2017 when this article was published) at San Diego State University.

Amazingly, he has about 200 LinkedIn connections. I’m no futurist, but I am 100% certain that this young man is going to be extremely successful after he graduates. Besides, who agrees to be interviewed by a total stranger who could never hit a curve ball in his dreams?

While every client of mine knows that I’d love to be the CFO for the St. Louis Cardinals or Kansas City Royals for just one day, I was curious to find out what it’s like to be a bat boy for a Major League Baseball club. Cole was gracious enough to respond in spite of his demanding schedule.

5 Questions for Cole DeVos

Is it fair to say you have one of the coolest jobs a young person could ever have?

Cole DeVos: I like to think I do have one of the coolest jobs a young person can have. I get to interact with athletes I have looked up to my whole life on a day-to-day basis. 

Also, the Padres are a fantastic organization and I get the opportunity to work with some pretty cool co-workers.

I’m guessing you had hundreds of kids/young people you were competing against when you first applied for the position. What made you stand out?

Cole DeVos: Well, for starters, batboys are required to be 18 years or older now. To be completely honest, I would have never gotten the job if I did not know one of the prior batboys who recommended me. 

So, I guess it was just a stroke of luck. I played baseball my whole life and I do have a really good knowledge of the game. So, some basic knowledge of baseball and being able to shag and catch is definitely a requirement as we help out with batting practice every day.

Every CEO, every manager, every supervisor wants an A player on their team. How do you bring your A-Game to the park every day knowing at times it can become a grind, even thankless at times?

Cole DeVos: Lots and lots of coffee (ha-ha). We (meaning us clubbies) often work late into the night or just have to spend the night in the clubhouse. It wouldn't be uncommon for us to finish out a series at midnight and then have to be ready to go again at 7:00 the following morning. 

I always just try to keep in perspective how lucky I am to have this job and I always get excited when I am driving to the ballpark, so it's not too hard for me to always have my A Game.

Earlier, I stated how I found you on LinkedIn. I believe every college student should have a LinkedIn profile. Tell us about your first awareness of LinkedIn, why you added a profile, and if believe your peers should be following suit.

Cole DeVos: LinkedIn is huge. I first heard about is as a freshman through my fraternity. We were required to create an account with an updated résumé which has been hugely beneficial. 

I have connected with many different types of professionals via LinkedIn and would not be surprised if I met a future employer that way. I think without a doubt all college students should have a LinkedIn profile; it is a huge networking opportunity especially coming out of college looking for a job.

Is there a career in sports in your future? Besides your college education, do you think your role with the San Diego Padres will prepare you for your next position?

Cole DeVos: I would absolutely love to have a career in sports. My dream would be to move into the business side of the operation and work in the financial or marketing department for a professional team. 

However, it is a highly competitive niche so I am keeping my options open. Without a doubt, this role will help prepare me for my future positions. It has taught me how to interact in a professional manner with much larger individuals than myself. 

I have gained a ton of confidence in my communication skills and no longer feel nervous or timid talking to anyone. It also taught me time management skills. Being a full-time student and working 60-70 hours a week at home stands teaches you how to prioritize and capitalize on free time.

On Becoming a Bat Boy

I already know what you are thinking. I bet you are wondering how your kid could become your favorite team’s batboy, right?

I asked Cole, and he said, “I would say to all the people trying to become a batboy, just stay patient. Keep looking at team websites because they often post job openings such as batboy on their websites. Be professional and be persistent.”

Cole, you are a winner and here’s hoping you go yard in the next season of your life after graduation.

About the Author

Mark Gandy has been a long-time Free Agent CFO™ since 2001 and can quickly and effortlessly move your financial management and FP&A processes to an MVP level in no time. Feel free to connect with him here on LinkedIn.