Baseball Scientist
Department: Baseball Operations
Status: Full-Time, On-Site
POSITION OVERVIEW:
The Boston Red Sox are seeking a forward-thinking Baseball Scientist to drive the development and application of innovative biomechanics systems aimed at improving on-field performance and injury risk mitigation. This role will involve the collection, processing, analysis, and reporting of motion capture data, as well as the development of custom software tools and pipelines to streamline these processes. The Baseball Scientist will collaborate with various stakeholders including Strength & Conditioning, Medical, and Player Development to integrate biomechanical insights into training and game strategies and will work to evolve the position beyond just operating the lab by creating scalable systems and contributing to educational initiatives.
DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW:
The Baseball Sciences department leverages cutting-edge research, data, and technology to enhance player performance, development, and overall team success. By integrating principles from biomechanics, sports science, data analytics, and artificial intelligence, the department plays a critical role in driving innovation on and off the field. The team works closely with coaches, medical staff, strength & conditioning experts, and front-office personnel to develop and implement evidence-based strategies that improve player health, maximize athletic potential, and optimize in-game performance. The Baseball Sciences department is committed to pushing the boundaries of sports science in baseball, putting the Red Sox at the forefront of technological and analytical advancements in the sport.
REPOSIBILITIES:
- Manage the day-to-day operations of the biomechanics lab, including scheduling data collection sessions, coordinating with athletes and staff, and ensuring proper data storage and processing protocols are followed.
- Develop custom software tools and data pipelines using languages such as Python, R, C/C++, and SQL to automate data processing, analysis, and reporting.
- Create scalable systems that allow coaches, coordinators, analysts, and office personnel to effectively leverage biomechanical data and insights throughout the organization.
- Contribute to internal educational initiatives to ensure that relevant stakeholders understand biomechanical principles, their relevance to player health and performance, limitations, and practical applications within baseball.
- Continuously evaluate and improve biomechanical data collection and analysis processes, staying up to date with the latest technologies and best practices in the field.
COMPETENCIES:
- Understanding of modern statistical and machine learning methods and an advanced proficiency with popular data science languages and libraries.
- Practical understanding of how to approach research questions to drive actionable insights.
- Able to visualize, present and disseminate analyses to a diverse group of stakeholders (leadership, coaches, players, scouts, etc.) in a clean, intuitive, and engaging way.
ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:
- Demonstrated biomechanics data collection experience with both marker-based and markerless motion capture systems.
- Strong coding skills in languages such as Python, R, SQL, and C/C++, with experience developing custom software tools and data pipelines.
- Previous experience working directly with coaches and/or athletes, with the ability to effectively communicate complex biomechanical concepts to non-technical audiences.
- Formal undergraduate and graduate-level education in biomechanics, computer science, or a related field (i.e., MS, MA, Ph.D.) is preferred.
- Ability to connect with and respect people from different backgrounds and cultures, including players, families, coaches, agents, trainers, and others.
- Passion for leveraging technology and data to drive innovation in sports performance and injury prevention.
In addition to the above requirements, all roles within Baseball Operations are expected to effectively demonstrate our universal competencies related to problem solving, teamwork, clarity of communication, and time management, along with embodying our culture of honesty, humility, relentlessness, and commitment to DEIB.
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