Ben Rockwell
Mike Matheny
Carl Moesche
Lexi Brace
Shayla Medows
Reed Kienle
Ray Alexander
Derek Waddell
I was the youngest attendee (13 years old!) at this conference, but I came out the most interested. This drove my love for all aspects of the game and helping me accomplish my dream of working in baseball.
2024 Baseball Career Conference
Dallas, Texas - December 8-9th, 2024
This conference is your chance to meet Scouts, Agents, Player Personnel, Media, and Management in MLB careers. In the process, you'll learn how to advance your career at all levels of baseball!
What are the Baseball Winter Meetings*?
The Baseball Winter Meetings* is an annual event, held each December, in which representatives of all 30 Major League Baseball teams and their 120 minor league baseball affiliates convene for three days to discuss league business and conduct off-season trades and transactions. Attendees include league executives, team owners, general managers, team scouts, visitors from baseball-playing countries, and trade show exhibitors. The 2024 Baseball Winter Meetings* will take place Dec. 8-11th, in Dallas, Texas
*SMWW's Career Conference is not affiliated or in any way connected with MLB, Minor League Baseball, or the Baseball Winter Meetings.
What is the SMWW Baseball Career Conference?
The SMWW day-long career conference offers unique panel discussions and question-answer periods designed to start or advance your career in the business of baseball. The day will be split up into diverse speaker panels; including scouting, Analytics, marketing, management, media, public relations, digital video editing, athlete representation, broadcasting, and sports career strategies. The Welcome Reception and Networking Lunch offers attendees to network within the business side of baseball.
Why should you attend?
Simply put, if you work in baseball or want to work in baseball, this is a must-attend event!
Our annual SMWW Baseball Career Conference provides people of all ages with a desire to work in the MLB, minor league baseball, and collegiate baseball, insight and exposure they can't get anywhere else. This event puts you in the heart of the baseball universe. Baseball Winter Meetings* are not open to the public, however, the SMWW Baseball Career Conference will give you the opportunity to ask questions of Agents, Scouts, Analysts, Media, and Player Personnel including:
- Network with baseball executives at the major league, minor league, and collegiate level
- Career guidance from the well-known major league, minor league, and collegiate level executives
- Insights on who is doing the hiring and what you need to know to get hired
- Connect with sports career-minded individuals
- Mentors who have been where you are and want to assist you with your career
- Insider information about changes in the industry that put your career on the fast track
- Strategies to catapult your career to the next level
*SMWW's Career Conference is not affiliated or in any way connected with MLB, Minor League Baseball, or the Baseball Winter Meetings.
Who Should Attend?
Anyone 18 years or older working on the business side of baseball, wanting to work in baseball, or baseball fans wanting to learn about the inner workings of the game. (17 and younger may attend with an adult upon request.) This includes executives and staff at the major league and minor league level, MLB employees, scouts, agents, baseball writers and bloggers, baseball-related manufacturers and equipment companies, current, and former professional players, etc.
Where
The 2024 Winter Meetings will take place in Dallas, Texas.
Closest Airport: Dallas Fort Worth (DFW)
Scholarships
SMWW will award a limited amount of full and partial scholarships for each SMWW Career Conference. You must be 18 years or older to be considered. If interested, fill out an application and submit your resume and a one-page letter explaining why you should receive a scholarship to StudentServices@smww.com.
Scholarships do not include lodging or airfare. Those who have completed an SMWW Training Program will be given preference.
Why Dallas in December?
Dallas offers a ton of sports exposure as the city hosts NFL, NHL, NBA, MLS, and MLB franchises, along with multiple NCAA Universities. Plus, Dallas is home to amazing food and a fantastic cultural hub!
Networking Opportunities: One of the advantages of this conference is the ability to network within the industry with fellow baseball-minded individuals. Some work for a team or baseball organization, some own baseball academies or schools, a few are college students who want to get ahead before graduation, others work full-time in another industry but want to switch careers or scout on the side, while some are looking to break into the industry. All have a PASSION for baseball. Following their presentations, most speakers chat one-on-one with attendees. Most attendees come alone and find lifetime friends with a love of the game! Many return year after year!
The SMWW event is the best learning experience of the year for understanding how the entire sports market works. I enjoy hearing from a broad spectrum of presenters including executives, front office workers, scouts, players, agents, marketing, and media. I've worked in major league sports for 20 years and find SMWW events fresh and unique. 
Ari Kaplan, Moneyball Analyst for Professional Teams
Free Registration Now Open!
Conference Registration includes:
One 3-hour Zoom Meeting with NBA Executives at all levels including Agents, Scouts, GMs, Media, and more all for FREE!
2023 Baseball Career Conference Agenda*
*We work with our speakers and panels around their team meetings. Team meetings are scheduled one week prior to the event. Speakers are not guaranteed. However, you can keep checking back as we add speakers and make changes. We always have a great schedule. You will love it!
Sunday, December 3, 2023:
12 noon - 2 pm CST - Registration Opens Inn at the Opryland Hotel Atrium, 2401 Music Valley Dr, Nashville
2:00 pm CST - Bus* loads for Welcome Reception at First Horizons Ballpark - home of the Nashville Sounds AAA team.
2:30 pm CST - Bus* leaves Inn at the Opryland Hotel for First Horizons Ballpark
*A tour bus is available to sign up for to get transported to the Welcome Reception. It is a $10, non-refundable, fee to reserve your seat. More information is available upon registration. The tour bus will depart at 2:30 pm CST. This is a one-way bus. After the Welcome Reception, you will be in downtown Nashville... Enjoy!
3 pm - 5:30 pm CST - Baseball Career Conference Welcome Reception
At First Horizons Park, home of the Nashville Sounds AAA team. An optional tour of the stadium will be available between 3-4 pm CST (Included with registration.)
Welcome Message from:
- Jeff Hem, Nashville Sounds Director of Broadcasting
- Kevin Kurowski, Nashville Sounds Director of Ticket Sales
- Trey Rose, Pittsburgh Pirates Scout and SMWW Alumni
6 pm - Enjoy Downtown Nashville
Monday, December 4, 2023:
8:30 am Registration Opens Inn at the Opryland Hotel Atrium, 2401 Music Valley Dr, Nashville
9:00 am - Opening Remarks with Dr. Lynn Lashbrook, SMWW President
9:15 am - How to get the most out of the Winter Meetings with Dan Evans, former LA Dodger GM
9:30 am - The Life and Role of an MLB Agent
- (Moderator) Dr. Lynn Lashbrook, President, and Founder of SMWW
- Oscar Suarez, MLB Agent, SMWW Mentor
- John Boggs, MLB Agent, SMWW Mentor
- Evan Green, CAA Baseball Agent and Director of Arbitration, & SMWW Alum
10:15 am - Break
10:30 am - The Future of Expansion in the MLB
- (Moderator) Dr. Lynn Lashbrook, President, and Founder of SMWW
- Kelley Franco, Throop, Attorney for Franco and Associates
- Dan Szymborski, Senior Writer for FanGraphs & contributor to ESPN
- Maury Brown, Senior Contributor Forbes Sports Money
11:30 am - One on One with LA Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts
12noon - SMWW Networking Lunch in the Inn at Opryland's Donelson Room
1:15 pm - How to Develop the Stars of Tomorrow
- (Moderator) Dan Evans, former MLB GM & former MLB Agent, SMWW Mentor
- Dan Duquette, former MLB GM, and SMWW Mentor
- Elvis Martinez, Tampa Bay Rays Communications and Player Relations Manager, SMWW Alum
2:00 pm - Team Travel Management with LA Dodgers
- (Moderator) Dan Evans, former MLB GM & former MLB Agent, SMWW Mentor
- Scott Akasaki, LA Dodgers Team Travel Manager
2:15 pm - The Impact of Scouting and Analytics in Baseball
- (Moderator) Dan Evans, former MLB GM & former MLB Agent, SMWW Mentor
- Ari Kaplan, Scoutables President, MLB Analyst, and SMWW Mentor.
- Hank Jones, 40-year MLB Scout, and SMWW Mentor
- Kevin Goldstein, Minnesota Twins Special Assistant to the GM
3:15 pm Break
3:30 pm - The Business of Media in Baseball
- (Moderator) Ike Worth, SMWW Business Operations Manager
- Bob Nightengale, USA Today MLB Columnist
- Jeff Hem, Nashville Sounds Director of Broadcasting
- Katie Woo, St. Louis Cardinals Beat Reporter
4:30 pm - One-on-one with Baltimore Orioles Assistant GM, Kent Qualls
5 pm - Closing Remarks
5:15 pm Dinner on your own
8 pm - 12 midnight - Monday Night lobby networking with the entire baseball industry. Join Dan Evans & the SMWW Team as your networking coach in the Gaylord Opryland Hotel Resort & Convention Center Lobby. Watch Media Row in action.
2800 Opryland Drive Nashville
Tuesday, December 5, 2023 - The Baseball Industry Network Meet-Up (Optional)
8:00 am - 10:00 am:
Gaylord Opryland Hotel Resort Lobby
2800 Opryland Drive Nashville
*SMWW's Career Conference is not affiliated or in any way connected with MLB, Minor League Baseball, or the Baseball Winter Meetings.
SMWW’s Industry Leading Courses Featured In:
2019 Featured Speakers
*Speakers are subject to change.
John Boggs
MLB Agent
MLB Agent
Mike Matheny
Kansas City Royals Manager
Kansas City Royals Manager
Scott Bush
SABR Chief Executive Officer
Rick White
Atlantic League President
Dan Evans
Former LA Dodgers GM & former Toronto Blue Jays Scout
Erin O'Donnell
Gwinnett Stripers Assistant General Manager
Emily Jaenson
Reno Aces Baseball Club General Manager
Hank Jones
Former LA Dodgers Scout
Former LA Dodgers Scout
Craig Calcaterra
HardballTalk at NBC Sports.com Lead Blogger
Sam Ray
San Diego Padres Manager, Amateur Scouting
San Diego Padres Manager, Amateur Scouting
Alyson Footer
MLB National Correspondent
MLB National Correspondent
Ari Kaplan
Scoutables Founder & Baseball Analytics Leader
Andrew Engel
DataRobot Data Scientist and General Manager, Sports and Gaming
DataRobot Data Scientist and General Manager, Sports and Gaming
Alexis Collins
Baseball Prospect Evaluation/Writer
Baseball Prospect Evaluation/Writer
Bill Shaikin
Los Angeles Times Sports Writer
Dan Duquette
Former Baltimore Orioles General Manager
Oscar Suarez
MLBPA Agent, SMWW Faculty
Joseph Myers, Ph.D.
Tampa Bay Rays Director of Baseball Performance Science
Gabriel Suarez
San Rafael Pacifics President and Owner
Dan Rosquette
MLBPA Agent
Trey Rose
Assistant, Baseball Operations, Pittsburgh Pirates (SMWW alum)
Sylvia Lind
MLBPA Agent
Phil Van Horn
MLBPA Agent
Lynn Lashbrook
President & Founder of SMWW
Former NCAA Athletic Director
Certified Sports Agent,
Past Speakers
Speakers vary from year to year:
- Dayton Moore, KC Royals, GM
- John Boggs, MLB Agent
- Ned Colletti, LA Dodgers GM
- Peter Gammons, Hall of Fame Writer and MLB Analyst
- Harold Reynolds, MLB Network On-Air Talent, and Fox Sports Analyst
- Joe Hamrahi, Co-Founder 2080baseball.com and Former President of Baseball Prospectus
- Fred Claire, Former LA Dodgers GM, and Well-Known MLB Executive
- Don Welke, Vice President Scouting Operations San Diego Padres
- John Cox, Major League Scout and Pacific Rim Scout San Francisco Giants
- Tracy Ringolsby, Hall of Fame Writer for MLB.com & Baseball America
- Dan Evans, Toronto Blue Jays Scout, Former LA Dodgers GM
- Pat Gillick, 3-Time World Series GM, and HOF
- John Mozeliak, St. Louis Cardinals GM
- Jayson Stark, ESPN Senior Baseball Analyst
- Stan Kasten, Los Angeles Dodgers President
- Jay Miller, Texas Rangers Senior VP
- Tyrone Brooks, Pittsburgh Pirates Director of Operations
- Lee Folger - Baseball America President/Publisher
- Cory Schwartz, MLB Advanced Media Vice President, Stats
- Bill Squadron, Bloomberg Sports GM
- Jerry Crasnick, ESPN and Baseball America
- Rob Neyer, SB Nation National Baseball Editor, and Well-Known Baseball Author
- Tony DeMacio, Director Scouting Atlanta Braves
- Toney Howell, Special Assistant GM LA Dodgers
- Dr. Lynn Lashbrook, SMWW President and Founder
- Benjamin Hill, Baseball Writer, MiLB.com
- Jeff Idelson, President, National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
- Mark Galuska, Director of Marketing and Sales, Columbus Clippers (AAA-Indians)
- Bobby Brett, Brett Sports & Entertainment and Spokane Indians Managing Partner
- Bob Masewicz, Total Sports Entertainment Owner
- John Manuel, Baseball America Editor in Chief
- Tom Whaley, St. Paul Saints, Executive VP & Owner
- Dana Sinclair, Sports Psychologist - Clients include Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Anaheim Ducks, and Portland Trail Blazers
- Ari Kaplan, Scoutables President, Leading Figure in Sports Analytics
- Oscar Suarez, MLB Agent
- Tom Leip, Salem-Keizer Volcanoes President
- Will Carroll - Contributor, SI.com
- Hector Gomez, MLB Agent
- Joe Favorito, Sports Publicity & Marketing Consultant
- Bobby Evans, San Francisco Giants, Dir. of Player Personnel
- Alyson Footer, National Correspondent MLB.com
- Sal Artiaga, Former President of Minor League Baseball
- Dr. Jose Goyos, Ph.D. L.C.S.W. Kansas City Royals Sports Psychologist
- Mike Birling - Durham Bulls GM
- Tom Giordano, Special Assistant GM Texas Rangers
- Scott Akasaki, Los Angeles Dodgers Travel Director
- Maury Brown, Founder and President of The Biz of Baseball
- Larry D'Amato, Former MLB Scout
- Mark Smith, Oakland A's Minor League Video Coordinator
More about the Baseball Winter Meetings*
For those of you who have never experienced the Baseball Winter Meetings*, it is fascinating! This event is the major baseball event of the year. GMs, player agents, executives, managers, and yes, a few players all attend. It's an event worth attending if you are looking to network, and report on the signings and trades that go down, or for fans to feel the energy and excitement. Where else can you have Tommy Lasorda, Bill James, Mike Rizzo, Scott Boras, Bob DuPuy, Billy Beane, Harold Reynolds, Lynn Lashbrook, Dan Evans, and Bobby Cox all within 20 feet of each other? (As reported by Maury Brown) There are also trainers, scouts, media, reps from the leagues, ESPN, Baseball America, MLB Network, MLB.com...it is a plethora of baseball who's who. Attending the SMWW Baseball Conference and walking around will be enough for most of you.
*Note: SMWW's Career Conference is not affiliated or in any way connected with MLB, Minor League Baseball, or the Baseball Winter Meetings.
Internships
SMWW offers sports internship opportunities throughout the year in both our Portland, Oregon, and Gloucester, England offices. Visit this page for more information. SMWW conducts interviews at SMWW Career Conferences.
Download a Copy of the
2022 Baseball Program Here
Note: Speakers are not guaranteed and will change. The closer we get to the date, the more speakers will know their team meeting schedules.
