Zach L.

About Zach L.

I love the analytical side of baseball. Growing up in Richardson, TX and playing the game from a young age, my passion for baseball continued to grow when it brought me to Haverford College. Being a member of the Haverford baseball team exposed me to the possibilities in which data can be used to enhance the game – whether it\'s using pitch data and swing metrics to aid player development or using pitcher tendencies to plan an approach at the plate. As someone with an inclination for numbers, I naturally majored in Mathematics, combining my baseball passion with statistical concepts for my senior thesis. The year-long research project involved the implementation of an optimization algorithm designed to streamline free-agency decisions by maximizing the projected Wins Above Replacement without exceeding the luxury tax threshold. During the pandemic, Haverford cancelled the 20••••21 athletic season, resulting in my decision to take a gap year. During the 2020 summer, I earned my U.S. Coast Guard Captain’s License and started my own fly fishing guide service in the fall of 2020. Over the next year and a half, I ran close to 60 charters and gained some invaluable experience by creating my own website, growing a brand, and client management. After graduating from Haverford, I continued pursuing opportunities where I could work with more baseball data, finding a role with Sam Carpenter and the Dallas Mustangs Baseball Club as a Player Development Coach. Conducting pitching assessments for youth, high-school, and college-aged players using Rapsodo 2.0 technology, I have been able to analyze and identify the strengths and weaknesses of each pitcher’s arsenal. The results of each baseline assessment are used to prescribe certain adjustments and drills, which have resulted in an average of 10 to 20% increases in various pitching metrics such as spin efficiency, total movement, and velocity.A brief internship with Student Sports at the Area Code Games in August 2023 further fueled my aspirations to work in baseball. It was my first experience using R to work with Trackman data, and I extracted various metrics and statistics to create social media graphics and posts throughout the event.I\'m currently pursuing a Master\'s of Science in Business Analytics from the University of Texas at Dallas and expect to graduate in August 2024. I\'m hoping that the skills I learn from this degree program will set me up well for a career in sports analytics. Let\'s connect if you want to talk about open positions, my experiences, or any sports-related topics.

Experience

1. Player Development Associate

   Boston Red Sox

   Jan 2025 — Present · Fort Myers, FL, US

Education

• Haverford College

  Bachelor's degree, Mathematics

• The University of Texas at Dallas

  Master of Science, Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence