MLB Draft League announces player personnel/scout liaisons and data coordinators

NEW YORK -- The MLB Draft League has announced its player personnel/scout liaisons and data coordinators for the 2023 season.

“The player personnel/scout liaisons and data coordinators are essential members of the MLB Draft League. They play a critical role in ensuring that our players have everything they need to succeed on and off the field. Their work is vital to the success of our teams and the development and exposure of our players. They are also important contributors to the growth of the baseball industry as a whole,” MLB Draft League President Sean Campbell said.

The player personnel/scout liaisons are the primary contact for all league communications and player movement for their respective teams and scouting groups. Their responsibilities include coordinating player and team travel as well as assisting their team’s General Manager in facilitating the intake and exit process for rostered players.

Each Draft League data coordinator serves as a technology liaison for their respective team, tasked with managing in-game video operations and the technology needed for data capture. They are responsible for verifying the accuracy of the data while working closely with the Draft League’s tech partners to identify and troubleshoot issues. Most importantly, each data coordinator is essential in distributing information to players, coaches and scouts.

Frederick Keys

Pedro Lara, Player Personnel/Scout Liaison

Lara joins the Keys after completing his senior year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics. At RPI, he displayed versatility as a student-athlete, being a midfielder on the soccer team, and acting as the baseball team’s data analyst. Lara created scouting reports for the Engineers’ defense and helped the team set goals and track their progress throughout the season.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to work within the MLB Draft League this summer! I am looking forward to working with the staff and the players as well as helping the next generation of baseball players in their journeys!” - Pedro Lara

Will Dodge, Data Coordinator

Dodge joins the Keys entering his senior year at the University of Oregon, where he is studying business analytics. He was a founding member of the university’s Sports Analytics Club and wrote monthly newsletters with the News and Aggregation Committee with Oregon Accelerator. Dodge’s newsletters updated Oregon’s student-athletes on the latest Name Image and Likeness (NIL) deals.

“I’m thrilled to be involved with the Draft League this summer! I can’t wait to help be a difference maker with the players on their journeys and to make lots of memories!” - Will Dodge

Mahoning Valley Scrappers

Ziv Mayo, Player Personnel/Scout Liaison

Mayo, who pitched for Albertus Magnus College, joins the Scrappers after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management. During the 2022 season, he served as a coach at the 14U level for Steel City Connect. Mayo also interned at the Diesel Sports Complex, where he would create contacts for collegiate recruits, organize and run clinics, classes and private lessons at the facility and create evaluation sheets from tryouts.

“I’m super excited to be a big part of the MLB Draft League this summer! I am looking forward to being able to assist the coaching staff and front office of Mahoning Valley and help the players to the next level! I aim to learn a ton of new information and help be a big part of the team operations.” - Ziv Mayo

Evan Oliver, Data Coordinator

Oliver joins Mahoning Valley after completing his first year at the University of Missouri, where he studies Statistics in the Honors College. As a student analyst with the Mizzou baseball team, he is developing a system to record players’ outs above average for coaches and has used various scouting tools to track batting practices and pitching.

“I’m thrilled to get this opportunity to work with some of the top players around the country with the Draft League this summer in Mahoning Valley as well as further my data skills throughout the summer!” - Evan Oliver

State College Spikes

Shannon O’Neill, Player Personnel/Scout Liaison

O'Neill is extending her stay at Medlar Field this summer after finishing her sophomore year at Penn State, where she was an administrative student manager for the baseball team. Studying business management, O’Neill coordinated the team's travel plans, working with other team managers and game-day setup.

“I’m excited to get started with the national talent of players and coaches in the MLB Draft League! I look forward to assisting the staff this season to excel the players toward their ultimate goal of furthering their baseball careers.” - Shannon O’Neill

Sam Cerimele, Data Coordinator

Cerimele joins the Spikes ahead of his senior year at Penn State. Like O’Neill, he was a part of the Nittany Lions’ baseball manager team working in data analytics. In his role, Cerimele used various scouting tools and existing resources to create new scouting reports to utilize in games.

“I am very excited for the opportunity to work for the MLB Draft League in State College this summer! I am looking forward to making a positive impact on the players’ careers and getting to work with an accomplished coaching staff.” - Sam Carimele

Trenton Thunder

Nick Palumbo, Player Personnel/Scout Liaison

Palumbo’s new role with Trenton in the Draft League this season comes after a turn as a player for Williamsport last summer, when he struck out 22 batters over 17 innings while appearing in 11 games. Palumbo captained the baseball team at Francis Marion University, where he graduated with a degree in Management Information Systems with a minor in Software Engineering.

“I am very excited to be having the opportunity of working with the Trenton Thunder this summer. I can’t wait to work with the coaching staff and make a difference in these players’ careers.” - Nick Palumbo

Ellis Schwartz, Data Coordinator

Schwartz joins Trenton after graduating from Emory University with a dual degree in Economics and Mathematics. As a captain for Emory’s baseball team this past spring, he started all 39 games and finished second on the team in batting (.377), first in triples (5) and tied for the lead in RBIs (52), while also tallying nine home runs and 12 steals. Previously, Schwartz was an intern with Graveyard Mentality, where he collected and evaluated offensive and defensive video of clients, uploading to their social media pages as well as training outfielders in individual and group settings.

“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to work with the incredibly talented players and coaches in the MLB Draft League this summer. I look forward to learning more about the emerging data and technology aspects of baseball, as well as building relationships with my colleagues and hopefully making a positive impact on the Trenton Thunder!” - Ellis Schwartz

West Virginia Black Bears

Brian Switzer, Player Personnel/Scout Liaison

Switzer joins the Black Bears after working as a technology assistant and Kinatrax operator for the Cincinnati Reds as well as a baseball operations intern and scouting apprentice with Prep Baseball Report Ohio. After graduating from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in Sports Administration, Switzer completed his Master’s degree in Sports Administration with Specialization in Sports Analytics.

“I am beyond excited and truly grateful to be selected for this opportunity to assist the MLB Draft League this summer and to continue my time with Prep Baseball Report! Ever since the inception of the inaugural PBR/MLB Draft League season in 2021, I've admired this added initiative of the Draft League PBR has created in assisting individuals from all backgrounds in chasing their dreams of continuing their playing careers at the next level. From my time assisting PBR events and providing exposure all over the Buckeye State at the prep baseball level to now being a part of the next level of assisting in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity Draft League with helping players receive the deserved recognition, exposure and analytical looks from one of the country's most prominent and respected independent scouting services will be a truly rewarding feeling I will have throughout this summer. At the same time, having the opportunity to grow my knowledge of the game and develop further invaluable skills to become the best baseball professional I can be to achieve my dream of working in amateur scouting at the MLB level.” - Brian Switzer

Joseph Yanchak, Data Coordinator

Yanchak returns to West Virginia after serving as the team’s data coordinator and facilities and operations intern during the Draft League’s inaugural season in 2021. Entering his senior year at West Virginia University studying Sports Management, Yanchak acted as the head student manager for the Mountaineers baseball program, overseeing over 30 student managers, and was responsible for scouting reports and player analytics while acting as a liaison to the coaching and support staff.

“I’m excited to be returning as a data coordinator for the MLB Draft League and to have the ability to help out the WV Black Bears players and staff while I continue to learn more within the baseball industry!” - Joseph Yanchak

Williamsport Crosscutters

Grant Drachman, Player Personnel/Scout Liaison

Drachman joins Williamsport after graduating from the University of Delaware with degrees in Marketing and Business Analytics. Serving as a student manager for the baseball team, he oversaw the use of various scouting tools and created reports for players and coaches. Drachman comes into this season also working as the video and data coordinator for the Elizabethton River Raiders of the Appalachian League and the analytics coordinator for the Danbury Westerners of the New England Collegiate Baseball League.

“I am truly honored to join the MLB Draft League this summer, as it has swiftly emerged as a great platform for developing talent. I am eagerly looking forward to supporting an exceptionally experienced coaching staff in Williamsport.” - Grant Drachman

Trevor Reformat, Data Coordinator

Reformat joins Williamsport ahead of his senior year studying Statistics with a minor in Sports Management and Economics at St. John Fisher University. Previously, Reformat participated in the Diamond Dollars Data Analysis Case Study Competition where he researched and obtained data across Minor League Baseball and used that information to determine if the rule modifications would be successful in the future. He presented the collected data to Major League Baseball representatives.

“I am very eager to be a part of the MLB Draft League for the upcoming summer! I'm excited to work alongside the extremely talented players and coaching staff of the Crosscutters and the entire league with their journeys in such a prolific industry!” - Trevor Reformat

For more information about the MLB Draft League, visit mlbdraftleague.com or follow @mlbdraftleague & @draftleaguedata on Twitter, and @mlbdraftleague on Instagram.