The Major League life
Life in The Show is everything Katie Mooradian hoped and dreamed it would be.
The 26-year-old St. Catharines native is in her second full season with the Tampa Rays and first as Travelling Assistant, Advance Scouting/Major League Operations.
Mooradian joined the Rays as a full-time employee last season as an advance scout after being hired on an 18-month internship through the Major League Baseball Diversity Fellowship Program.
Mooradian’s duties this season have her travelling with the team and experiencing life in the big leagues on the road for the first time.
“It’s amazing just to be able to go to all the difference cities and the experiences, it’s been awesome so far,” Mooradian said Wednesday from Rogers Centre in Toronto where the Rays are battling the Blue Jays this week.
Mooradian still has to pinch herself to realize her position isn’t all just a dream.
“I’m very lucky and very grateful that I have this opportunity with the Rays,” the Sir Winston Churchill graduate said. “They spoil us for sure. Anything you need is there for you. You don’t have to worry about anything, that’s for sure. It’s unbelievable the way they treat us. Being in these cities and being on the team charters, the food we get, the accommodations we stay at are all top notch.
“I’m definitely going to continue to take advantage of it and not take it for granted. A lot of people would do a lot of things to be in my position.”
Mooradian, who took a particular liking to Boston, tries to see some of each city the Rays travel to.
“I usually try to prioritize getting out of the hotel, going for a coffee and walk and maybe do some shopping and get some fresh air,” she said.
Mooradian then hops on the team bus and it’s off to the ball park for a full day of work consisting of creating work sheets of information.
“It’s anything and everything on the other teams,” Mooradian explained. “Defensive tendencies, see if we can take advantage of their outfielder’s arms and range and also looking at our own players to see if there are things other teams could take advantage of.”
All of that is then compiled for the coaches and players.
“We send a big report to the entire staff and each coach gets their own individualized mini bundle related to them and things they need to look for in the game.”
Mooradian, who works with four others in her department, also sets up equipment in the bullpen to video pitchers and at home does a good deal of video work as well.
“It’s definitely a lot of work, but I don’t even look at it as work. I’m in a Major League Baseball stadium every day and watch baseball all day so it’s pretty cool,” she smiled.
Mooradian, a graduate of Brock’s sport management program, was slated to work for the Astros in 2020 season but the COVID pandemic wiped out all minor league baseball. She previously worked for the Astros in 2019 as Player Development Technology Apprentice with the Quad City River Bandits, and in 2018 was an intern with the Reading Fightin’ Phils of the AA Eastern League. She also worked with the Fayetteville Woodpeckers, the Low-A affiliate of the Houston Astros as a Player Development Technology intern. Mooradian’s position saw her in charge of all the video and technology for the club. She also doubled as director of team travel, setting the travel itinerary for the team, and accompanied the team on road trips.
She feels paying her dues was essential.
“I think it definitely helped getting accustomed to the schedule and getting to field at 11 in the morning and then maybe not leaving until 11 at night. I got used to being around field staff when I was in the minors and it gave me a good idea of what to expect,” she said.
Mooradian would love to continue to climb the ranks and aspires to be in uniform one day.
“I definitely want to continue this. For me, my goal eventually is to be on the coaching staff in the dugout during the games. That’s a long-term goal but I’m really enjoying what I’m doing now,” she said.
With the San Francisco Giants adding Alyssa Nakken as the first female full-time coach in MLB history, the door would seem to be opening for females in that area.
“At the Rays everyone is very accepting of me. It’s not she’s female. It’s she can do the job so it’s not a big deal. I feel part of the group just as much as everyone else even though I’m one of the only females travelling on our team,” Mooradian said.
“There are definitely more of us in the game now and it’s definitely going to continue to grow.”
Mooradian has moved full time to Safety Harbor, near Clearwater Beach in Florida.
“I love it. The weather is amazing, it’s close to the beach and there are a lot of things to do,” she said. “I definitely don’t miss the winters up here!”
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