Success story: Michael Sansarran headed to MLB

Areas of Study , Business Sports Society , Sports Business , Stories , Students Success Stories | Jan 15, 2013 | Nicole Gesualdo

It’s impossible to know yet what Major League Baseball will look like in the future.

What we do know is that Michael Sansarran (GSB ’13) will have a hand in shaping it.

Michael starts work this month with the baseball development department within the MLB commissioner’s office — a huge coup for a student who has a lifelong dedication to baseball not only as a sport, but also as a business and as an element of U.S. culture.

The baseball development office focuses on promoting youth and diversity in America through baseball. Its staff oversees MLB’s Urban Youth Academy, which provides free baseball and softball instruction to kids ages 8 through 17, and also runs special events designed to cultivate talent in and love of baseball, such as the Future All-Stars Game, the Breakthrough Series and the Civil Rights Game.

“The mission of this department aligns with a lot of my personal beliefs,” Michael said. “I could not have chosen a better role. This could be the only job I ever have!”

Michael got the job by taking a stab at the unknown. He decided to attend this past summer’s MLB Diversity Business Summit in Chicago, where — in addition to a lot of other networking — he ended up talking to John Quinones, the league’s vice president of human resources. Mr. Quinones recommended Michael for various internships within the organization.

“It was just a matter of time before they found a department right for me,” Michael said.

It’s unsurprising that MLB would want to hire Michael. He has taken as many sports-business courses as possible at Fordham and is on track to complete the business of sports certificate program, which will be replaced for future generations of students by the Gabelli School’s brand-new sports business specialization. He co-founded the Business of Sports Society, a student organization that was astoundingly active in 2012-2013, its first year. And he developed a solid background through internships at Bloomberg LP, the MLB Fan Cave and Bleacher Report.

One of the major projects Michael’s department takes on will be expanding the Urban Youth Academy from its original site in Compton, California, to cities throughout the United States. He’ll help in the establishment of new stadiums for youth and the day-to-day operation of their programs — and therefore have a hand in the development of players who may one day land spots on MLB teams.

It’s a role that could not be better suited to Michael’s skills and passion. The Gabelli School wishes him the best, in both his school-year job and the full-time position that will begin after graduation!