ABCA Podcast, Episode 405

ABCA Minority Member Spotlight: Tyrone Brooks, MLB Diversity Pipeline

The American Baseball Coaches Association strives to help diversify the baseball community and help bring opportunities in the game to all areas. The ABCA Minority Spotlight series looks to capture the experiences, coaching style, and impact that baseball has had on different ABCA member coaches. A new Minority Spotlight feature is released on the ABCA Podcast on the third Monday of the month and we will transcribe a small portion of the interview, which you can find below.

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The ABCA Podcast releases a new episode weekly featuring coaches from all levels of the sport. Discussions run the gamut of baseball coaching topics, from pitching, to hitting, to the mental game, practice planning, recruiting and more. The podcast is hosted by Ryan Brownlee, longtime coach and current Assistant Executive Director of the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA).

Tyrone Brooks joined the Office of the Commissioner at Major League Baseball as the Senior Director of the Front Office and Field Staff Diversity Pipeline Program in February of 2016. The Diversity Pipeline Program was established by Major League Baseball to increase the pool of qualified women and persons of color for front office and on-field roles in baseball operation at the club level and the Office of the Commissioner. Brooks, who is entering his 29th season in professional baseball, has notable front office experience including work in major league administration, scouting and player development. He was a valued staff member for the Atlanta Braves, contributing to the organization winning 10 Division titles in 11 seasons.

Ryan Brownlee: What drew you to a life of service?

Tyrone Brooks: I was very lucky to get into the game of baseball when I did, as far as the opportunity Hank Aaron created for me and so many others, through an internship he put together in Atlanta called the Career Initiative Program.

RB: Do you need to have a scouting background to be in the position that you are in now?

TB: No, not at all. I have had a variety of different experiences when it comes to being in the front office and different roles. You know, the Braves were a very scout driven organization when I first joined there. So just coming there, it sort of became engraved in my head that I might want to learn this side of it in addition to what I was doing on the administration side.

RB: Is there anything you have not done in the game outside of being the commissioner of Major League Baseball?

TB: It is funny you even say that, this game can humble you quickly. I can remember even one time, I will tell this story where in my first year with the Braves, I came in as an intern right before the baseball draft and got hired full time later in July.

RB: After your time in your current role, what are you most proud of?

TB: I am most proud of one the people that I have had a chance to really impact in some form, and in some way provide an opportunity. I am hoping that it is part of my legacy, the individuals that I have been able to help and see them for long productive careers, long way past me being on this earth. Also just the great people I have built relationships with. That is part of what makes this game so special.